Boris Johnson has carried out a hurried mini-reshuffle as he continued to resist calls to apologise for his controversial attack on Sir Keir Starmer over Jimmy Savile.
The Prime Minister gave some men - and a couple of women - promotions in what was dubbed a "heshuffle" of loyalists by Labour.
It was triggered after Cabinet minister Steve Barclay became No10 Chief of Staff following the departure of five top staffers from No10, and the Met Police launching an investigation into lockdown-busting parties, the Mirror reports.
The changes include new faces in the whips’ office and a fervent Brexiteer in charge of maximizing the benefits of leaving the European Union.
Jacob Rees Mogg was sacked as Commons leader but given a £35,825 pay rise as he became minister for ' Brexit opportunities and government efficiencies'.
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: "Who said dull men don't fail upwards? #heshuffle".
The major changes announced by Downing Street are:
Chief Whip: Chris Heaton-Harris
Chris Heaton-Harris, an ultra-loyalist who was a key member of the shadow whipping operation that has rallied round Mr Johnson in recent weeks, was appointed chief whip.
In the MP for Daventry and Transport Minister, the PM has chosen a self-professed "fierce Eurosceptic" and a former minister of Theresa May's administration.
Outside of Westminster he is known for a Twitter account which used to heavily feature Christmas cracker-style jokes before his ministerial responsibilities got in the way.
A sense of humour may prove essential as he tries to manage a party which appears set on publicly tearing itself apart.
Brexit Opportunities Minister: Jacob Rees-Mogg
Jacob Rees-Mogg has been appointed minister for Brexit Opportunities as Boris Johnson tries to shore up his premiership.
The top Tory, who has also been given responsibility for "government efficiency", previously said that the "overwhelming opportunity of Brexit is over the next 50 years."
Mr Rees-Mogg will keep his seat at the Cabinet table, although he is only at a Minister of State level.
He also gets a £35,825 pay rise as Ministers of State are paid more than the Leader of the Commons.
Leader of the Commons: Mark Spencer
The Prime Minister moved chief whip Mark Spencer sideways to the role of Commons Leader, which has responsibility for upholding standards across the House.
But the Mirror reports that some MPs were deeply concerned that Mr Spencer has been given the job when he is under investigation over racism claims made by Tory MP Nus Ghani, and Tory MPs have complained to Scotland Yard about the behaviour of the whips' office.
Ms Nusrat told The Sunday Times a Government whip told her that her “Muslimness” had been raised as an issue during the cabinet reshuffle. Mr Spencer posted on Twitter to identify himself, but denied the substance of the allegation.
His new role will still see him play a major part in liaising between Tory backbenchers and No 10.
Housing Minister: Stuart Andrew
Boris Johnson has appointed England's 11th housing minister in just 12 years.
Deputy Chief Whip Stuart Andrew was moved to Housing Minister as part of a clearout of the whips' office.
The current Housing Minister, Chris Pincher, was shunted aside, and was thought to be headed to Deputy Chief Whip. Housing campaigners have previously reacted with dismay at the constant churn of different ministers while England faces a housing crisis.
He will be in charge of meeting the target to build 300,000 homes a year. A post on Mr Andrew's website declares "Save Our Greenbelt", opposing a plan for 70,000 houses in the next 16 years in and around Leeds.
The MP for Pudsey, who is a landlord himself, was elected in 2010 and remained on the back benches until joining the whips' office in 2017.
Cabinet Office Minister: Michael Ellis
The Paymaster General keeps his role but also takes on some of Steve Barclay's responsibilities in the Cabinet Office.
The MP since 2010 had various junior government jobs under Theresa May before serving in the Transport Department and as Solicitor General and Attorney General under Boris Johnson.
The QC from Northampton was a criminal barrister for 17 years and personally oversaw a project to raise £100,000 for a stained glass window to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
Cabinet Office Minister: Heather Wheeler
The Boris Johnson loyalist and whip returns to government proper as a Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office, on top of her current jobs.
Elected in 2010, she shot to prominence after mounting a failed bid to replace Sir Graham Brady as chair of the backbench 1922 Committee - which oversees Tory leadership challenges.
As homelessness minister in 2019, she was forced to apologise after leaked emails showed her using 'racist' language about rough sleepers.
The Conservative MP for South Derbyshire described rough sleepers in her constituency as “the traditional type, old tinkers, knife-cutters wandering through”.
When she was made homelessness minister she said she would resign if rough sleeping did not fall. She moved to the Foreign Office 18 months later.
Other jobs
- James Cleverly stays in the Foreign Office but becomes Minister for Europe instead of Minister for Middle East, North Africa and North America
- Luke Hall is made Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party.
- Wendy Morton is promoted from a junior minister to a Minister of State in the Transport Department.
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