The Government has announced that Mr Edwards is its preferred candidate for the role of Information Commissioner to succeed Elizabeth Denham.

The appointment is subject to approval by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, followed by approval by HM the Queen.

Announcing its preferred nominee, the Government said that it wants to empower the Information Commissioner to “promote the responsible use of data to stimulate innovation and economic growth” and for Mr Edwards to “bring a new perspective” to the role alongside his wealth of data regulatory experience and 20-year career practising and specialising in information law.

The Government says that Mr Edward’s experience overseeing an independent country’s unique data regime also deemed “adequate” to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will be vital.

In the Government’s view, Mr Edwards will be able to help the UK achieve its aims of maintaining equivalence with the EU’s data standards, so personal data can continue to flow freely, while developing a new pro-growth approach to data law. To read the Government’s announcement in full, click here and here. To read the ICO’s statement, click here.