Prime Minister Boris Johnson to assemble Cabinet team to deliver Brexit with record number of minority ministers – who will make the cut?
BORIS Johnson becomes Prime Minister today – but he must still decide who his top team will be.
The new Tory leader is spending much of the next 24 hours locked away with aides assembling a “Cabinet for Modern Britain” which can deliver Brexit and his domestic policy agenda.
The first batch of key ministers will be unveiled this evening, with the rest to follow tomorrow.
Mr Johnson has vowed to include a record number of ethnic minority MPs, as well as more women than under Theresa May.
But he faces a delicate task balancing Leavers and Remainers, and decided which of his own supporters need to be rewarded with a top job.
BoJo may be tempted by a major clearout of Mrs May’s ministers – but every sacked minister becomes a potential enemy who knows how to use the machinery of Government to foil the new PM.
Here we take a look at the senior figures who could make up the incoming Cabinet.
PRIME MINISTER – Boris Johnson
BoJo is known for his love of delegating, spreading power out among a team rather than hoarding it for himself.
He has reassembled his battery of aides from his time in Mayor of London, headed by Sir Edward Lister as chief of staff.
Mr Johnson’s own role will be that of a “chairman” rather than a “chief executive”, supervising all departments but not micro-managing.
CHANCELLOR – Sajid Javid
With Philip Hammond resigning , Mr Javid is hot favourite to take over as guardian of the nation’s finances.
The current Home Secretary ran a spirited campaign for the leadership but later backed BoJo in a boost to his chances of getting the Treasury job.
HOME SECRETARY – Priti Patel/Nicky Morgan
Assuming Mr Javid gets a promotion, a new face will be needed in the Home Office.
Ms Patel, the pro-Brexit former Aid Secretary, is certain to return to the Cabinet and could land the prestigious post.
Or Ms Morgan, a Remainer who’s popular with Brexiteers, could become Home Secretary three years after she was sacked by Theresa May.
FOREIGN SECRETARY – Jeremy Hunt/Penny Mordaunt
Mr Hunt is adamant he must stay in his current post despite his aggressive leadership campaign against Boris.
But the new PM is keen to move him – and is rumoured to want Ms Mordaunt to replace him.
DEFENCE SECRETARY – Penny Mordaunt/Jeremy Hunt
The Brexiteer has been praised for her performance as Defence Secretary since becoming the first woman to take the role earlier this year.
BoJo has offered her job to Mr Hunt – but his leadership rival says he’d consider it a demotion.
BREXIT SECRETARY – Steve Barclay/Geoffrey Cox
Mr Barclay, the current Brexit Secretary, was one of the first Cabinet ministers to endorse Boris, which could help him stay in position.
Another contender is the widely respected Mr Cox, a top lawyer and staunch Brexiteer.
Under Mr Johnson, the Brexit Secretary’s role will be to prepare Britain for a possible No Deal, rather than leading talks with Brussels.
BUSINESS SECRETARY – Liz Truss
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury is in line for a promotion after impressing Brexiteers in recent months.
She has been tipped as a possible Chancellor but the Business Department is a more likely destination after Remainer Greg Clark leaves the role.
HEALTH SECRETARY – Matt Hancock
Despite his Remainer background, Mr Hancock backed Boris after ending his own bid for the top job.
That means he’s likely to stay as Health Secretary, the post he took over from Jeremy Hunt a year ago – unless he gets an even more senior job.
EDUCATION SECRETARY – Damian Hinds/Esther McVey
To avoid too much upheaval, the new PM may choose to keep the current Education Secretary Mr Hinds in his job.
Another candidate is Ms McVey, the former Work and Pensions Secretary, who put more schools funding at the heart of her failed leadership campaign.
HOUSING SECRETARY – Alok Sharma
Mr Sharma, the Employment Minister, is highly respected across the Tory party and Boris aides have indicated he’ll get a Cabinet role.
He was previously a junior minister in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government so that would be a natural home for him.
WORK AND PENSIONS SECRETARY – Amber Rudd
Ms Rudd is influential on the One Nation wing of the Tory party – but crucially, has come round to the view that No Deal Brexit must stay on the table in talks with Brussels.
That should be enough to keep her in the Cabinet, keeping her current job even if she isn’t promoted.
JUSTICE SECRETARY – Dominic Raab/Nicky Morgan
Ex-Brexit Secretary Mr Raab is highly likely to return to the Cabinet and his legal background could help him become Justice Secretary.
Ms Morgan is another former minister who previously worked as a lawyer and is keen for a Cabinet comeback.
TRANSPORT SECRETARY – Michael Gove
Although he fell out with BoJo in 2016, Mr Gove is expected to get a Cabinet position which will allow him to push through radical reforms as he did while Environment Secretary.
One possible destination would be the Department for Transport to replace the hapless Chris Grayling.
ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY – James Brokenshire
Mr Brokenshire, the current Housing Secretary, seen as a safe pair of hands who is respected on both sides of the Brexit divide.
He was one of Theresa May’s closest allies but supported Boris in the leadership campaign.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE SECRETARY – Kit Malthouse
Liam Fox is another senior minister who is unlikely to survive Mrs May’s departure.
Mr Malthouse, Boris’ former Deputy Mayor of London, is a Brexiteer and experienced minister who is at the centre of thrashing out plans to replace the hated Irish backstop.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY – Ben Wallace
One of BoJo’s oldest allies, Security Minister Mr Wallace is expected to reach the Cabinet sooner rather than later.
Taking over from Rory Stewart as the minister responsible for the huge aid budget is one possibility.
CULTURE SECRETARY – Andrea Leadsom
Although her own leadership campaign was a flop, Mrs Leadsom is seen as having done a good job as Commons Leader before she resigned in an anti-May protest.
She will be keen to return to the Cabinet and could take over at the so-called “ministry of fun”.
NORTHERN IRELAND SECRETARY – Michael Fallon/Michael Gove
With Karen Bradley not expected to keep her job, the new PM will want a heavyweight figure in the sensitive position of Northern Ireland Secretary.
Sir Michael, the former Defence Secretary, is one contender while Mr Gove has also been rumoured to be on the shortlist.
SCOTLAND SECRETARY – David Mundell
The current Scotland Secretary is likely to keep his job by default because of the lack of alternative contenders.
WALES SECRETARY – Alun Cairns
Boris-backing Mr Cairns is also set to stay in the Cabinet under the new regime.
CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY – Jacob Rees-Mogg/Mel Stride
If he’s feeling bold, BoJo will hand the job of “deputy Chancellor” to Brexiteer star Mr Rees-Mogg – even though he’s never held ministerial office.
A more cautious choice would be Mr Stride, the Treasury veteran promoted to Leader of the House of Commons in May.
ATTORNEY GENERAL – Geoffrey Cox/Robert Buckland
The job of being the Government’s chief legal adviser is hugely important in the light of ongoing Brexit wrangling.
If he’s not promoted Mr Cox will surely stay as Attorney General – otherwise the leading candidate would be Justice Minister Mr Buckland.
CABINET OFFICE MINISTER – Iain Duncan Smith/Matt Hancock
The role currently held by Mrs May’s de facto deputy David Lidington is perfectly suited for a veteran MP with a remit to work across the whole Government.
Mr Duncan Smith, who is BoJo’s campaign chair, could get the job – or it could go to Mr Hancock if he’s moved from Health.
LEADER OF THE COMMONS – Gavin Williamson
Managing parliamentary business will be one of the new Government’s trickiest tasks.
As a former Chief Whip, Mr Williamson knows his way around the Commons and is experienced in holding the Tory party together.
CHIEF WHIP – Mark Spencer
The MP for Sherwood has already been appointed at the new Prime Minister’s Chief Whip, responsible for all party discipline and winning Commons votes.
His promotion from being a more junior whip has been welcomed by most Tory MPs, whether they voted Remain or Leave.
PARTY CHAIRMAN – James Cleverly
Although his leadership bid never got off the ground, Mr Cleverly – recently promoted from Deputy Chairman to Brexit Minister – is hugely popular among the Tory grassroots.
With a strong social media presence, he could help challenge Labour online and get the Conservatives ready for a General Election.
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