Arch-Remainer Amber Rudd pleads for unity after Theresa May brings her back to the Cabinet as Work and Pensions Secretary

AMBER Rudd has pleaded for unity just hours after Theresa May brought her back to the Cabinet following a flurry of resignations.

The former Home Secretary replaced Esther McVey as Work and Pensions Secretary - putting her in charge of troubled Universal Credit.

Ms Rudd joins a Cabinet which includes Michael Gove - after he decided not to resign in protest at the PM's Brexit deal.

As Mrs May frantically searches for allies in the face of a leadership challenge, she also appointed complete unknown Stephen Barclay as the new Brexit Secretary.

Ms Rudd's promotion comes just seven months after she was forced to quit in disgrace over the handling of the Windrush scandal which saw Caribbean-born Brits told they have no right to live in the UK.

It could prove a controversial move because Ms Rudd is a staunch Remainer who recently suggested she could end up backing a second referendum on Brexit.

She takes the place of Ms McVey, who stormed out of office yesterday blasting Mrs May over the Brexit deal.

Sajid Javid - who took over from Ms Rudd - today said he was "thrilled" to see her back at the top table.

The new Work and Pensions Secretary tonight said her new role was an "honour and responsibility" and called for fellow Tory MPs not to bring down Mrs May.

She said: "I would ask them to think again - this is not a time for changing our leader, it is a time for pulling together to remember who we are here to serve.

"I worry sometimes that my colleagues are too concerned about the Westminster bubble rather than keeping their eye on what our job is.
"I am confident the Prime Minister can survive - I think she's demonstrated this week her complete commitment to making sure that she serves the people she was elected to do so."

Ms Rudd tonight insisted the Government's controversial Universal Credit system has "transformed lives" as she started work in her new role.

And she vowed to "iron out" problems with the new benefits system, adding as a one-nation Tory she wanted to "make sure that we really do help everybody across the country".

Asked whether responsibility for Universal Credit was a "poisoned chalice", she replied: "I have seen Universal Credit do some fantastic things.

"In my constituency in Hastings and Rye it really has transformed lives.

"But I also recognise that there have been some issues with it, some problems with it.

"I see it very much as my job, my role, to make sure that I try to iron out those difficulties so it becomes a force wholly for good."

But Labour blasted the PM for rehiring Ms Rudd so soon after the Windrush scandal.

Shadow minister Jon Trickett stormed: "After enforcing Theresa May’s hostile environment in the Home Office, Amber Rudd will now be in charge of the DWP’s hostile environment for disabled people and the poorest in society.

“With Universal Credit in absolute shambles, appointing a disgraced former Minister who was only recently forced to resign for her role in another scandal is a desperate choice by a weak Prime Minister.”

The PM appointed three new junior ministers to cap off a week of political chaos.

Ultra-Remainer Stephen Hammond, a former Transport Minister, replaces Mr Barclay at the Department for Health.

Kwasi Kwarteng, known as one of the Tory party's leading intellectuals, will be a minister for the first time - as a Leave supporter, he was given the Brexit Minister post which Suella Braverman quit yesterday.

And John Penrose, a minister under David Cameron, is now Northern Ireland Minister, after Shailesh Vara resigned in protest at the PM's Brexit plan.

Mr Gove earlier said he "absolutely" has confidence in the PM after revealing he won't quit the Cabinet.

But the top Brexiteer refused to say whether or not he supports her EU withdrawal agreement in its current form after turning down the job of Brexit Secretary.

It's not yet known who will take over that crucial role previously held by Dominic Raab.

The Environment Secretary was blasted by critics after spending 24 hours weighing up whether or not to resign.

Last night he refused an offer of promotion from the PM, prompting speculation he was on the verge of walking out.

But this morning it emerged he wants to continue in his current job - pushing the case for a clean Brexit from inside the Cabinet.

Mr Gove emerged outside his department to back Mrs May - asked if he has confidence in the PM, he replied: "I absolutely do.

"I'm looking forward to continuing to work with all my Government colleagues and all my colleagues in Parliament in order to make sure that we get the best future for Britain.

"I think it's absolutely vital that we focus on getting the right deal in the future and making sure we can get a good outcome."

But when he was asked if he can back the Brexit deal as it currently stands, he refused to comment.

His wife Sarah Vine predicted today that even if Mrs May does end up facing a vote of confidence, she will win the support of her warring MPs.

If the veteran minister had quit, it could have dealt the death blow to the PM's leadership hopes.

Mr Gove has been the only Brexit-backing minister to support the PM's strategy without reservations up till now.

He is seen as a possible future leader, having stood against Mrs May in the 2016 contest.

But he is also deeply attached to his current job as Environment Secretary where he is seen as the most dynamic Cabinet minister.

Mr Gove has an emotional link to the portfolio - as a child he saw his fisherman father lose his business because of EU rules, motivating him to lead Britain out of the grasp of Brussels.

Asked on LBC whether he'd threatened to quit last night, Mrs May said only: "I had a very good conversation with Michael yesterday."

She added: "Michael's done a really important job at Defra.

"I want all of my colleagues in the Cabinet to feel able to carry on doing the excellent job they're doing."

During his 24-hour period of indecision critics claimed he was only concerned about what would be best for his career - rather than the future of the country.

Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson joked: "Michael Gove is the only politician I know who makes NOT resigning look like an act of disloyalty."

Pro-EU peer Lord Adonis added: "For Gove, the Tory leadership, the country, Brexit - Europe and the world - is all a Game of Thrones revolving around him, his ego, and his quest for power and domination."

And Labour MP Kevin Brennan said: "Gove’s non-resignation shows his mendacity and May’s weakness - if your PM asks you to serve in a role anyone with a real sense of duty would do so or stand down - or they’d be sacked by a strong leader.";

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