Shock as incoming PM Theresa May appoints Boris Johnson Foreign Secretary in her new Cabinet
The Prime Minister has filled the top jobs in her first Cabinet tonight and revealed who the new Brexit Minister is going to be
BORIS Johnson last night stormed to the top of Theresa May’s new Government as Foreign Secretary.
Britain’s new PM stunned Westminster by giving BoJo one of the most prized jobs in her Government.
Prime Minister Theresa May kisses her husband Philip as she leaves her old apartment before heading to Downing Street for her first full day in office
He was among three Brexiteers given the top six Cabinet roles, along with three Remain backers, as Mrs May bids to heal the wounds of the referendum civil war.
Speaking outside his London home last night, BoJo said: “I’m obviously very humbled and excited to be offered this chance.
“I completely agree with Theresa’s sentiments about opportunity, about giving people better life chances.
“Clearly now we have an opportunity to make a great success of our new relationship with Europe and I am very excited to be asked to play a role in that.”
The Foreign Office tweeted two photos of Johnson already visiting the department, just hours after being given the new role
WINNERS AND LOSERS: Who's in and who's out in Theresa May's Cabinet?
IN
Boris Johnson - Foreign Secretary
Philip Hammond - Chancellor of the Exchequer
Amber Rudd - Home Secretary
Michael Fallon - Defence Secretary
David Davis - Brexit Minister
Liam Fox - International Trade Secretary
OUT
Oliver Letwin - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Michael Gove - Justice Secretary
Nicky Morgan - Education Secretary
John Whittingdale - Culture Secretary
George Osborne - Chancellor of the Exchequer
STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED
Justice Secretary
Work and Pensions Secretary
Health Secretary
International Development Secretary
Leader of the House of Commons
Education Secretary
Leader of the House of Lords
Transport Secretary
Northern Ireland Secretary
Business Secretary
Environment Secretary
Communities and Local Government Secretary
Culture Secretary
Secretary of State for Wales
Secretary of State for Scotland
Two weeks ago, the ex-London Mayor looked down and out of politics when his own party leadership bid was knifed by Michael Gove.
He is now the UK’s public face worldwide and in charge of spy agencies including MI6 and GCHQ.
But taking the job also means a hit to his wallet. His official salary of £134,565 is a quarter of the £613,000 he made last year from books and newspaper columns.
The Foreign Secretary vacancy arose when Mrs May moved Philip Hammond to Chancellor.
As he left No10, Mr Hammond told reporters: “I’m delighted.”
He takes over from George Osborne, sacked by Mrs May at the start of her whirlwind reshuffle.
Within an hour of taking charge, Mrs May began to fill all key posts in charge of the nation’s security.
Her promotion of ex-Energy Secretary and Remain backer Amber Rudd to Home Secretary means two of the four great offices of state are now occupied by women.
Mrs May then rewarded two prominent Brexit campaigners with top jobs to oversee Britain’s pullout from the EU.
Serial Tory rebel David Davis was made Brexit Secretary.
His department will be forged from the Cabinet Office’s Europe Unit and take over the UK’s representatives in Brussels.
Ex-Defence Secretary Liam Fox also makes a surprise comeback by taking up another new post, International Trade Secretary, to broker fresh deals around the world. His ministry replaces the scrapped UK Trade & Investment Department and will poach staff from the Department of Business.
Finally Mrs May asked Remain’s Michael Fallon to stay on as Defence Secretary.
The rest of her Cabinet will be appointed at breakfast time today, with several Tory heavyweights sweating over their futures.
Her leadership campaign chairman Chris Grayling, widely tipped for a top job, has yet to be appointed. A source said last night he had not had any conversations with the Prime Minister.
The careers of Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Culture Secretary John Whittingdale were also in the balance, as was that of former leadership contender Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb.
Some junior ministers last night started jumping ship before they were pushed.
The first was the campaign manager for Mr Gove’s disastrous leadership battle, Skills Minister Nick Boles.
Convinced he would not get a long-hoped-for promotion to the Cabinet, Mr Boles said: “This is the right time for me to return to the backbenches.”
But he pledged full loyalty to the new PM and dubbed her bid to make Britain work for everyone in society a “noble ambition”.
Several other Cabinet ministers also began winding up their offices, expecting to get the bullet today. Meanwhile, Boris’s former leadership campaign team told of their delight with his major job.
WHO'S WHO IN THERESA'S CABINET Profiles of the VERY Eurosceptic new members of Theresa May's front bench team
Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary: Chief Brexiteer whose campaign led to Cameron's demise rewarded with plum role
Johnson had himself been in contention for taking up the role of Prime Minister following Cameron's announcement that he would resign from the position after Britain voted to leave the EU.
After all, Johnson had been the chief campaigner for Britain to exit, fighting tooth and nail for the historic change that would see the country leave the EU in two years.
But Johnson withdrew his hat from the ring soon after the referendum vote came through, with claims he had been ambushed by Michael Gove.
Johnson, 52, worked as a journalist but was elected as an MP in 2001.
He gave up his seat when he became the Mayor of London in 2008, but as his time drew to a close, he stood again - and was successful - as as MP in 2015.
The father-of-five's strong anti-EU agenda will heavily influence the British government, particularly with Johnson sitting in the Foreign Secretary role.
But he may not have an easy job with reports already coming out of Germany that Johnson is not a popular choice after his involvement in pushing for Brexit.
David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union: Cameron's political rival is comeback king as he is moved from the backbench into newly-created role to steer Britain away from the EU
The former Europe Minister has been brought in from the cold, promoted into the Cabinet as Brexit Secretary after two decades on the backbench.
The promotion gives Davis a Cabinet position for the first time this century, having most recently served as Europe Minister from 1994 to 1997.
Looking smug as he visited the new Prime Minister at Downing Street, the 67-year-old pro-Brexiteer was given the role on the same day as Cameron left Downing Street. The pair previously faced each other for the Conservative leadership in 2005 with Cameron defeating Davis.
The colourful politician, who once forced a by-election by resigning over the erosion of civil liberties in the UK, is certain to come out strong in leading the country out of the EU.
Davis, who was supporting Boris Johnson for the leadership of the Conservative Party until he withdrew, was previously offered a Cabinet position by David Cameron but refused.
Phil Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer: Long-time May ally rewarded with top job
Hammond was serving as the Foreign Secretary before being promoted to the role of Chancellor of the Exchequer under May's leadership.
The move comes with Hammond, who worked in manufacturing and consultancy companies, one of May's strongest allies in the Conservative party.
He has worked his way steadily up in government, having been appointed Transport Secretary in 2010 before winning the defence portfolio in 2011 then becoming Foreign Secretary.
The 60-year-old, pro-EU politician has been promoted to the role he has long been tipped to want with his presence balancing out the Brexit-heavy Cabinet.
Hammond takes over the position from George Osborne, who is widely believed to have jumped before being pushed by May.
Amber Rudd, Home Secretary: May passes on her former role to another woman in heady promotion for another pro-EU politician
Amber Rudd, who was Energy and Climate Change Secretary before her promotion, will add flavour into May's Cabinet having previously attacked the newly-appointed Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson for his pro-Brexit stance.
The 52-year-old butted heads with Johnson, accusing him of being too focused on winning a permanent residence at No10.
She was not shy over her calls for Britain to remain with the EU, attending a number of events over the country to encourage people to vote for Remain.
The promotion to Home Secretary is likely a thank you from May, who Rudd staunchly supported during the Conservative leadership contest.
The only female to have been given a role in Theresa May's reshuffle on Wednesday, Rudd is hoped to come out strong in her new role.
The promotion to Home Secretary is a swift rise for the politician of six years but she has already been given a dazzling endorsement by fellow MP Therese Coffey who said the role would be in safe hands under Rudd.
Liam Fox, International Trade Secretary: Impressive comeback for pro-Brexiteer once caught up in political scandal
The newly created International Trade portfolio for Dr Fox signals a comeback for the politician.
Having been beaten for the Conservative Party leadership in 2005 and this year by former PM David Cameron, the pro-Brexiteer is likely to fare well under May.
But 54-year-old Fox, who was brought up in a council house outside Glasgow, could be out of practise with the politician not having held a ministerial position since October 2011 when he was forced to resign from his defence secretary post in disgrace.
Dr Fox was forced into political wilderness, despite his popularity with Euro-sceptics, after being embroiled in controversy over his friend introducing himself as an advisor.
But aside from the scandal, Dr Fox has held several ministerial roles including that of Defence secretary from 2010 to 2011.
The more fervent Brexiteer of those who were once tipped as successors to Cameron, he will have a strong – if small – support unit.
Michael Fallon, Defence Secretary: Incumbent secretary and Eurosceptic sticks it out in current position in Cabinet reshuffle
A politician who once declared he would "die a Eurosceptic" has clung onto his position as Defence Secretary under the new rule of Theresa May.
Fallon, who has been a politician since the '90s, is one of the most experienced appointed in May's shuffle.
He even served under Britain's first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher and was one of those who urged the former PM not to resign.
Having been a Minister in the Department for Education between 1990 and 1992, he has also served as the Minister for Business and Minister for Energy before being appointed to Defence Secretary in 2014.
Supporting the Remain campaign, Fallon has long supported Mrs May.
That left several big Tory beasts sweating heavily over their futures.
His campaign manager and Northern Ireland Minister Ben Wallace tweeted: “So very pleased for my good friend Boris Johnson becoming Foreign Secretary. He will do Britain proud.”
Another key campaign helper, Tory MP Jake Berry, added: “I thought that throughout the Brexit campaign the new Foreign Secretary showed himself as someone with a real vision of how Britain can grow outside of the EU.
“The PM’s decision shows the huge support that was behind Boris in the party, even though he decided not to run himself.” And senior Tory MP Nigel Evans added: “It’s great — he opens doors wherever he goes, he is known around the world.
“Boris is Boris, and you want someone everyone knows.
“He gets away with murder clearly. Most politicians would be politically dead if they had said half the things Boris said.
“But he’s got a brand and Brand Boris is vitally important to us.
“And now we are selling Britain around the world, I think Boris is going to be able to do that.”
Former Ukip chief Nigel Farage welcomed the appointments of David Davis and Liam Fox, describing his fellow Brexiteers as “inspired choices”, adding he felt “more optimistic now”. Senior ministers and lowly Tory MPs alike spent yesterday with their phones at close hand, nervously exchanging gossip on what Mrs May had planned.
The new PM is well-known for playing her cards close to her chest.
“The PM’s decision shows the huge support that was behind Boris in the party, even though he decided not to run himself.” And senior Tory MP Nigel Evans added: “It’s great, he opens doors wherever he goes, he is known around the world.
“Boris is Boris, and you want someone everyone knows.
“He gets away with murder clearly. Most politicians would be politically dead if they had said half the things that Boris said, but he’s got a brand.
“And Brand Boris is vitally important to us, and now we are selling Britain around the world, I think Boris is going to be able to do that.”
GREEN DENIES ‘ON WAY’ TIP
KEY Theresa May ally Damian Green was forced to deny he was heading to Downing Street after being spotted nearby.
The MP for Ashford is tipped to be part of the new Cabinet but was not among those ministers named last night.
He was walking in Whitehall yesterday when a BBC journalist wrote on social media that Mr Green was “en route to Downing Street from Parliament”.
But the MP quickly responded and insisted: “No, I’m not!”
Former Ukip chief Nigel Farage welcomed the appointments of David Davis and Liam Fox, describing his fellow Brexiteers as “inspired choices”, adding he felt “more optimistic now”. Senior ministers and lowly Tory MPs alike spent yesterday with their phones at close hand, nervously exchanging gossip on what Mrs May had planned.
The new PM is well-known for playing her cards close to her chest.
Only two of her most trusted advisers, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, had any inkling of who she wanted to do what jobs.
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One minister told The Sun: “Nobody has a clue what’s going on. Theresa has given nothing away.
“But that’s her way and we’re all going to have to get used to it.”
One Tory MP, James Cleverly, tweeted: “Reshuffle Time. 72 hours of saying congratulations to colleagues through gritted teeth while thinking, ‘It should have been me’.”