Prime Minister Theresa May has started assembling her new team with ruthless efficiency. She announced the Great Offices of State within hours of assuming premiership, with her first cabinet announcement being former foreign secretary Philip Hammond as Chancellor of the Exchequer, replacing George Osborne. They are joined by Amber Rudd as Home Secretary and the shock entry of Boris Johnson, the man David Cameron never gave a job to, as Foreign Secretary.
As the morning of May’s first full day in Downing Street progresses, we are watching an unusually holistic purge of the old guard. Michael Gove, Nicky Morgan, John Whittingdale, Jeremy Hunt and Oliver Letwin have all been removed from their posts with no hint as of yet at re-appointment. George Osborne was told last night that he was not wanted in the Cabinet.
May is perhaps close to only Harold Macmillan in the number of ministers she is banishing to the backbenches in her reshuffle, whilst two new cabinet positions have been created, Secretary of State for Exiting the EU (which has gone to David Davis) and Secretary of State for International Trade – Liam Fox.
The first six appointed Cabinet positions were equally divided between Leave and Remain campaigners.
Here is the run down so far:
Prime Minister: David Cameron (2010–16), Theresa May
Chancellor of the Exchequer: George Osborne (2010–16), Philip Hammond
Secretary of State for the Home Department: Theresa May (2010–16), Amber Rudd
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Philip Hammond (2014–16), Boris Johnson
Secretary of State for Justice: Michael Gove (2015–16), Elizabeth Truss
Secretary of State for Defence: Michael Fallon (2014–16)
Secretary of State for Exiting the EU – David Davis
Secretary of State for International Trade – Liam Fox
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Stephen Crabb (2016), Damian Green
Secretary of State for Health: Jeremy Hunt (2012–16)
Secretary of State for International Development: Justine Greening (2012–16), Priti Patel
Secretary of State for Education; Minister for Women and Equalities: Nicky Morgan (2014–16), Justine Greening
Leader of the House of Lords: The Baroness Stowell of Beeston MBE PC (2014–16)
Secretary of State for Transport: Patrick McLoughlin (2012–16), Chris Grayling
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills; President of the Board of Trade: Sajid Javid (2015–16)Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy: Greg Clark
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change: Amber Rudd (2015–16)
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland: Theresa Villiers (2012–16), James Brokenshire
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Elizabeth Truss (2014–16), Andrea Leadsom
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: Greg Clark (2015–16), Sajid Javid
Secretary of State for Wales: Alun Cairns (2016)
Conservative Party Chairman, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster: Oliver Letwin (2014–16), Patrick McLoughlin
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport: John Whittingdale OBE (2015–16), Karen Bradley
Secretary of State for Scotland: David Mundell (2015–16)
Leader of the House of Commons: Chris Grayling (2015–16)
Gavin Williamson has also been appointed as Chief Whip.
As Andrew Lilico put it:
Basically, this is a Cabinet of those that *didn’t* have George Osborne’s mobile number.
— Andrew Lilico (@andrew_lilico) July 14, 2016
The Business Department has been almost entirely cut, with Universities, apprenticeships and skills back under the Department for Education; and has now been combined with the Department for Energy and Climate Change.
We’ll be updating this list as we learn more.
