Cummings and Goings
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CABINET RESHUFFLE Cummings and Goings Boris Johnson has carried out his second reshuffle since entering 10 Downing Street. Armed with an eighty-seat majority and having just ‘got Brexit done’ the Prime Minister sought to entrench his power by shaping his team around his agenda for government. Although the reshuffle was not as widespread as had been just after the election, he has stood down some senior figures and promoted those deemed reliable, loyal, and committed to the Government’s agenda. The Prime Minister began his Thursday morning by relieving a handful of key ministers of their role to make way for a new cohort of ministers ready to implement a bold domestic agenda. Number Ten have been relatively open with their view that they will reward loyalty and competence and punish attempts to gain attention and divert from the Government’s priorities. This reshuffle was intended to set the tone for another decade in power for the Conservative Party and is designed to provide a pool of talent from which the Government can choose over the coming years. In another widely-expected move, Theresa Villiers was Cabinet Sackings relieved of her duties as Secretary of State for the The first member of the Cabinet to lose his job was the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Whilst strongly pro- Northern Ireland Secretary, Julian Smith. Although he had Brexit it was thought that her initial reluctance to support appeared to have secured his position with the finalisation the Prime Minister’s revised deal contributed to a sense of an agreement to restore the power sharing executive at that she was not fully supportive of the Prime Minister and Stormont his relations with Number Ten have been difficult. his agenda. There are reports that he had not sought prior clearance for Esther McVey was the final Minister attending Cabinet to be elements of the deal he agreed in Northern Ireland from the sacked by the Prime Minister. Although not a full cabinet Prime Minister. level position, Housing Minister is an increasingly important Following him out of Government was Andrea Leadsom, in a role and her sacking means that the trend of short-lived widely-trailed departure. Her sacking is thought to be the Housing Ministers continues. Like Leadsom, McVey entered result of her demanding high office in return for supporting the 2019 leadership contest but was eliminated at an early Johnson’s leadership campaign despite only achieving stage in the race. eleven votes herself in the first round. A demand that With the Cabinet dismissals completed, the Prime Minister appears to have annoyed the Prime Minister. summoned Sajid Javid, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In Geoffrey Cox was another high profile and anticipated what was the biggest news of the day, Javid resigned his departure. Despite being somewhat of a cult figure in parts position rather than accede to the demand to dismiss his of the Conservative Party due to his expressive and team of special advisers in order to establish a joint Number theatrical speaking style, it is this very trait that is reported 10/Number 11 team of aides. The alacrity of Sunak’s to have resulted in him falling out of favour with Number appointment as his successor suggests that Javid’s decision Ten. It is thought that this willingness to pontificate at had at least been considered a possibility. length in Cabinet combined with his very independent These Cabinet sackings are the result of a Downing Street approach is what sealed his fate. operation that is unforgiving to those it deems either incompetent or inconvenient. However, Javid’s resignation The Leader of the Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, has kept a implies a great deal more. With the former Chancellor out very low profile after some mistakes early in the General of Cabinet, the Prime Minister and his small circle of Election campaign. Whilst there were concerns over advisers have the opportunity to build a new system of whether he was consistent with the new and refreshed Government as it tries to merge the power and personnel of image the Government is trying to present, his command of the Treasury and Downing Street. parliamentary procedure is not in question. The role of Commons Leader also has a much lower profile under a majority government when compared to a hung parliament. Cabinet ‘Remainers’ Perhaps the target of the most aggressive briefings in Following the shock resignation of Sajid Javid as Chancellor, advance of yesterday’s events had been the Defence Rishi Sunak was appointed to succeed him. This represents a Secretary, Ben Wallace. Despite rumours that he had fallen very large promotion indeed from his previous role of Chief out with the Prime Minister he is thought to have made his Secretary to the Treasury. Despite this being a huge leap in peace with those in Number Ten, including Dominic seniority and a budget being due within a month, Sunak has Cummings. Although he remains in post, it is likely that he the advantage of already serving in the Treasury. He is will adopt a slightly lower profile than previously and try and therefore likely to be across the policy detail. In contrast to align his efforts more closely with those of Number Ten. his predecessor, Sunak is viewed very much as a loyalist by Whilst these figures remaining in post could imply that the those in Number Ten including Dominic Cummings. It is this Prime Minister was not as brave as intended, it is important that explains his rapid climb up the ministerial ladder. Less to consider the activity of the last few weeks. By briefing than seven months ago he was Parliamentary Under- heavily that a number of ministers were going to be Secretary of State for Local Government. dismissed, the Number Ten operation have been able to Alok Sharma was later promoted from Secretary of State for bring them into line behind the Prime Minister’s agenda. In International Development to Secretary of State for politics, there are few more effective incentives than Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Alongside this he ambition. will serve as president of COP26, overseeing the conference in Glasgow later this year. This is another large promotion and is likely due to Sharma’s approach of keeping a New Cabinet Appointments relatively low profile and getting on with the job at hand. In a promotion that had been briefed in advance, Anne- The summit later this year will however give him the Marie Trevelyan was promoted to Secretary of State for opportunity to establish a more prominent public profile. International Development from her previous position of After a brief hiatus following the abolition of the Armed Forces Minister. Like Sunak, Trevelyan is being Department for Exiting the European Union, Steve Barclay rewarded for her loyalty to the Prime Minister with a rapid returns as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. He will be able to rise up the ministerial ladder; her first ministerial build on his experience as Economic Secretary to the appointment was as Minister for Defence procurement Treasury and will be responsible for controlling government when Boris Johnson became Prime Minister in July 2019. spending. Although ostensibly a demotion he is likely to be In another widely-trailed move, Oliver Dowden was relieved to be back in Cabinet. appointed Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Whilst there were some interesting changes in Cabinet, Sport, replacing Baroness Morgan. Dowden was an early those who remained were almost as intriguing. As expected, supporter of Johnson’s leadership campaign and went to Priti Patel, Dominic Raab and Michael Gove all remain in the Cabinet Office following the latter’s election as Leader. post. Along with the newly-promoted Rishi Sunak, they are He will play a key role in upcoming debates over the BBC likely to form the core of this Government for some time to and the extent to which the Government should regulate come. Other anticipated retentions included Matt Hancock, the internet. Robert Buckland, Gavin Williamson, Robert Jenrick, Grant The highly-rated Suella Braverman has become Attorney Shapps, Mark Spencer, Alister Jack, Simon Hart and Baroness General. A longstanding Eurosceptic, she was one of only a Evans. All are seen as broadly loyal and on board with the handful of Tory MPs to vote against Theresa May’s Government’s overall approach. Withdrawal Agreement on all three occasions. In addition to However, there were a number of ministers who had been serving as Chair of the European Research Group, viewed as being vulnerable who ultimately remained in Braverman was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for post. These include Liz Truss who has been the target of Exiting the European Union during 2018. She is likely to take negative briefings in recent months. Nevertheless, it is a prominent role in the Government’s efforts to curtail what thought the Prime Minister values her enthusiasm for free it sees as the ‘judicialisation’ of politics. trade at a time when this area of policy requires a great deal of energy. The Work and Pensions Secretary, Thérèse Coffey had also been thought to be at risk but, having only been appointed in September, remains in post. In an appointment not briefed until very late yesterday, Other notable appointments include Kemi Badenoch as George Eustice has been made Secretary of State for Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, viewed as a rising star Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, replacing Theresa and capable communicator. As further appointments at Villiers. This is a promotion from his previous role as Minister of State, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister of State within DEFRA, a role he also held for five and Parliamentary Private Secretary level take place over and a half years under David Cameron and Theresa May.