London: Boris Johnson’s newly formed Cabinet meets for the first time at 9 a.m. today after the PM completed most of his reshuffle last night. It’s expected a few more jobs will be announced this morning, bringing the extended drama (we use the word loosely) to a close. Expect to see photos of all the new boys and girls, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, dominating the news today after the unpleasant business of sacking a number of well-known figures. Johnson set a clear agenda with his Cabinet overhaul — a focus on shoring up his domestic record ahead of the next election — whereas the junior ministerial appointments which continued until late last night were more predictable. Still, some illuminating choices stand out, and Playbook’s here to take you through them.
Out: Today’s highest-profile sacking was John Whittingdale, the media minister — a surprise given his closeness to Carrie Johnson, who started her political career in his office. Also out the door are: Jesse Norman at the Treasury, Caroline Dinenage at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Luke Hall at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Justin Tomlinson at the Department for Work and Pensions (who becomes deputy chairman), Graham Stuart at the Department for International Trade, James Duddridge at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and Matt Warman at DCMS.
In: Penny Mordaunt becomes minister of state at DIT, while Michael Ellis replaces her as paymaster general at the Cabinet Office. Deep breath: Robin Walker is the minister of state and Alex Burghart a minister at the Department for Education … Lucy Frazer is financial secretary to the Treasury and Helen Whately as exchequer secretary to the Treasury … Victoria Atkins is the minister of state at the Ministry of Justice … Gillian Keegan is the minister of state and Maggie Throup a minister at the Department of Health and Social Care … Lee Rowley is a minister at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and a whip … Neil O’Brien is a minister at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government … Alex Chalk is solicitor general …
Chloe Smith is the minister of state and Will Quince a minister at the Department for Work and Pensions … Conor Burns is the minister of state at the Northern Ireland Office … Damian Hinds stays at the Home Office and becomes minister for security and borders … Jo Churchill is a minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs … Vicky Ford is a minister at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office … Chris Philp is a minister the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport … Mike Freer is a minister at DIT … Rachel Maclean is a minister at the Home Office … Trudy Harrison is a minister at the Department for Transport … and Amanda Solloway becomes a whip.
Whither women: It’s now possible to take a step back and look at the profile of the reshuffle. There are two more women in the Cabinet than before, and two out of four great offices of state, in line with Boris Johnson’s longstanding promise to boost female representation at the top of government. The proportion of women is only slightly up at 27 percent because the overall number of people attending Cabinet has increased. The raft of ministerial appointments yesterday show some female MPs who have been hotly tipped for ages, such as Victoria Atkins and Helen Whately, edging closer to Cabinet — moving up that pipeline we hear so much about.
