Boris Johnson Cabinet Reshuffle RECAP: Michael Gove moved to Housing | Liz Truss replaces demoted Dominic Raab | Gavin Williamson and Robert Buckland sacked | No change for Priti Patel and Rishi Sunak
Keep up-to-date with the latest developments as the Prime Minister makes changes to his top team.
Boris Johnson Cabinet Reshuffle LIVE: Wednesday, September 15
Key Events
- Truss replaces Raab as Foreign Secretary
- Gove moved to Housing, Communities and Local Govt
- Williamson and Jenrick sacked
- Sunak and Patel stay put
- Milling out as Tory co-chair
Lammy comments on departure of ‘affable’ counterpart
Responding to the departure of Robert Buckland as his opposite number, Labour’s shadow justice secretary David Lammy tweeted: “This Government has run the justice system into the ground and onto the brink of collapse.
“The Crown Court backlog has reached a record-high while the number of rape convictions are at a record-low.
“Always affable, I was able to work constructively with (Robert Buckland) during the peak of the coronavirus crisis and wish him well, but the new Justice Secretary must be capable of fixing the courts and victims crisis the Conservative government has created.”
Williamson first to face the chopping block
Gavin Williamson has been sacked as education secretary after months of calls for his removal as Boris Johnson began his Cabinet reshuffle.
The Prime Minister was carrying out a long-awaited shake-up of his top team on Wednesday afternoon, with plans to put in place a “strong and united” Cabinet following the turbulence of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Williamson was one of the ministers deemed most at risk of being told to return to the backbenches particularly due to his handling of the exams fiasco during the Covid-10 crisis.
Ousted first, he insisted he would continue to support the Prime Minister and the UK Government.
Read the full story:
Gavin Williamson sacked as education secretary as Boris Johnson's reshuffle begins
Gavin Williamson has been sacked as education secretary after months of calls for his removal as Boris Johnson began his Cabinet reshuffle.
Jenrick ditched from Housing brief
Robert Jenrick has been sacked as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The 39-year-old, who faced accusations of cronyism after approving controversial housing proposals put forward by Conservative Party donor Richard Desmond, tweeted that his time in office had been “a huge privilege”.
He added that he will “continue to support the Prime Minister and the Government in every way I can”.
Breaking bad news
Previous reshuffles have seen the Prime Minister use his Commons office as the venue to deliver bad news to those facing the sack or demotion.
Following Prime Minister’s Questions, Tory party co-chair Amanda Milling and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick were seen going into Boris Johnson’s parliamentary office.
A message from the Editor:
Thank you for reading this article. We’re more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.
If you haven’t already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.
Buckland moves ‘on to the next adventure’
Robert Buckland is the latest head to roll in Boris Johnson’s Cabinet reshuffle.
The 50-year-old, who has served as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor since 2019, tweeted: “It has been an honour to serve in Government for the last 7 years, and as the Lord Chancellor for the last 2.
“I am deeply proud of everything I have achieved. On to the next adventure.”
Williamson dumped from Education brief
Gavin Williamson has been sacked as Education Secretary, it has been confirmed.
The 45-year-old tweeted: “It has been a privilege to serve as Education Secretary since 2019.
“Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, I’m particularly proud of the transformational reforms I’ve led in Post 16 education: in further education colleges, our Skills agenda, apprenticeships and more.
“This programme will create better life opportunities for pupils and students for many years to come. I look forward to continuing to support the Prime Minster and the government.”
The ‘Carrie Reshuffle’?
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Boris Johnson “understood the importance of having a diverse Cabinet” but would not guarantee that female representation around the table would be maintained at least at its current level following the reshuffle.
Mr Johnson’s former aide Dominic Cummings has branded the shake-up the “Carrie reshuffle”, suggesting that Mrs Johnson’s allies would be rewarded.
But asked if the Prime Minister’s wife had been consulted on the reshuffle, the official Downing Street spokesman said: “No.”
PM embarks on reshuffle
Boris Johnson is carrying out a Cabinet reshuffle to appoint a team with a focus on “uniting and levelling up the whole country”, according to a No. 10 source.
“The PM will today conduct a reshuffle to put in place a strong and united team to Build Back Better from the pandemic,” the source said.
“Yesterday the PM set out his plan for managing Covid during the autumn and winter.
“But the Government must also redouble our efforts to deliver on the people’s priorities.
“The PM will be appointing ministers this afternoon with a focus on uniting and levelling up the whole country.”
Confirmation of the reshuffle came as Mr Johnson was on his feet in the Commons taking Prime Minister’s Questions.