Rishi Sunak has spent his first day as Prime Minister appointing a new team of ministers to help lead his government. The former chancellor entered No 10 as Liz Truss' successor after being formally appointed by the King.
Nearly a dozen ministers left their posts this afternoon as Mr Sunak prepared to appoint his new Cabinet. Jacob Rees-Mogg, a close ally of both Liz Truss and Boris Johnson, Brandon Lewis, who served as justice secretary, and former chief whip Wendy Morton were among the ministers to return to the back benches.
Mr Sunak then started appointing his new team, much of which remains unchanged following the departure of Ms Truss. Cabinet members who have kept their jobs include chancellor Jeremy Hunt, foreign secretary James Cleverly and Commons leader Penny Mordaunt - who might have been hoping for a promotion after dropping out of the leadership contest and paving the way for Mr Sunak to enter No 10.
READ MORE: Rishi Sunak enters No 10 to assemble Cabinet as he becomes Prime Minister- latest updates
Other MPs were appointed to roles they had held in previous governments, including Dominic Raab, who makes a return as deputy prime minister and justice secretary, Michael Gove as levelling up secretary and Suella Braverman, who has been reappointed home secretary after resigning from the position just days ago over a security breach.
Meanwhile, Therese Coffey, one of Ms Truss’s closest friends in Westminster, was demoted from deputy PM and health secretary to become environment secretary.
Here's where Rishi Sunak's new Cabinet stands as of 8pm today. This story will be updated as the evening goes on.
Rishi Sunak's Cabinet in full
Chancellor - Jeremy Hunt
Mr Hunt stays on as chancellor. He was appointed by Ms Truss after she sacked Kwasi Kwarteng over the fallout from the mini-budget. Mr Hunt is set to deliver his medium-term fiscal plan at the end of this month.
Justice secretary and deputy prime minister - Dominic Raab
Mr Raab has been handed back the roles that he held under Boris Johnson. It marks his return to frontline politics after he was sent packing as a high-profile casualty of Ms Truss’s Cabinet reshuffle. He also served as foreign secretary in Mr Johnson's Cabinet.
Chief whip - Simon Hart
Simon Hart, former Wales secretary, takes on the role of chief whip. The role was previously held by Wendy Morton, who was reported to have quit - and then not - over a fracking vote in the Commons last Wednesday.
Home secretary - Suella Braverman
This is perhaps Mr Sunak's most controversial appointment of the evening. Ms Braverman returns to the post of home secretary less than a week after she quit the role over a breach of the ministerial code. Labour MPs have criticised Mr Sunak's decision to get her back in the Cabinet just hours after declaring in his speech that he would 'lead with integrity and professionalism'.
Foreign secretary - James Cleverly
Mr Cleverly will stay on as foreign secretary, a position given to him by Liz Truss. Before that, he was education secretary for two months under Boris Johnson after Michelle Donelan quit 48 hours after being appointed to the role.
Health secretary - Steve Barclay
Steve Barclay, an ally of Mr Sunak, replaces Therese Coffey as health secretary, a position which he held under Mr Johnson. He previously held the role of Brexit secretary under Theresa May and Mr Johnson.
Education secretary - Gillian Keegan
Gillian Keegan is the fifth education secretary in just under four months. She previously served as education minister when Gavin Williamson ran the department.
Business secretary - Grant Shapps
Grant Shapps very briefly held the post of home secretary following Ms Braverman's resignation. He now moves to business secretary, after Jacob Rees-Mogg stepped away from the Cabinet role earlier today.
Trade secretary - Kemi Badenoch (also appointed minister for women and equality)
Kemi Badenoch keeps her role of trade secretary, and is also appointed to the role of minister for women and equalities.
Work and pensions secretary - Mel Stride
Mr Sunak's ally Mel Stride is the new work and pensions secretary, taking over from Chloe Smith. He was leader of the House of Commons under Ms May.
Culture secretary - Michelle Donelan
Michelle Donelan stays on as culture secretary, a role she took over from Johnson loyalist Nadine Dorries when Liz Truss became PM. Before that, she was the education secretary for two days before quitting ahead of Mr Johnson's resignation.
Levelling up secretary - Michael Gove
Michael Gove returns to frontline politics less than four months after he was dramatically sacked by Mr Johnson. Mr Gove had told his sometime ally, sometime rival, that his time in Downing Street was up, and the then PM responded by firing him. He takes back the levelling up portfolio. Following his appointment, Labour MP Lisa Nandy warned the job will be harder now than when he left it.
Defence secretary - Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace stays on as defence secretary, a job he first took up in 2019.
Environment secretary - Therese Coffey
Therese Coffey loses her job as deputy PM - and is moved from health secretary to environment secretary. Asked if she was pleased about the change in role, she said: “Very much so. Going home to Defra is great.”
Transport secretary - Mark Harper
Mark Harper is appointed transport secretary, taking over from Anne-Marie Trevelyan.
Northern Ireland secretary - Chris Heaton-Harris
Chris Heaton-Harris stays on as Northern Ireland secretary after being given the job by Ms Truss.
Wales secretary - David TC Davies
Monmouth MP David TC Davies takes the role of Wales secretary following Robert Buckland's cabinet departure.
Scotland secretary - Alister Jack
Alister Jack remains Scotland secretary, a role he has held since 2019.
Attorney General - Victoria Prentis
Victoria Prentis has served as a minister in DEFRA and the DWP. She now moves to the cabinet as she becomes the Attorney General.
Leader of the House of Commons - Penny Mordaunt
There's no promotion for Penny Mordaunt, the two-time Tory leadership contender, who will remain in her post as Leader of the House of Commons. Ms Mordaunt backed out of the most recent leadership contest on Monday paving the way for Mr Sunak to become PM unchallenged.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster - Oliver Dowden
Oliver Dowden, a former culture secretary, becomes Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, having resigned as party chairman after a disastrous double by-election loss under Mr Johnson.
Conservative Party chairman and minister without a portfolio - Nadhim Zahawi
Nadhim Zahawi is now minister without portfolio and the new Conservative Party chairman, after previous chairman Jake Berry announced his return to the back benches earlier on.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury - John Glen
John Glen has been appointed as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office - Jeremy Quin
Jeremy Quin has been appointed as Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office.
Who's out?
Jacob Rees-Mogg - out as business secretary
Brandon Lewis - out as justice secretary
Wendy Morton - out as chief whip
Chloe Smith - out as work and pensions secretary
Vicky Ford - out as foreign office minister
Kit Malthouse - out as education secretary
Robert Buckland - out as Wales secretary
Jake Berry - out as party chairman
Ranil Jayawardena - out as environment secretary
Simon Clarke - out as levelling up secretary
Alok Sharma - out as Cabinet Office minister (but remains Cop26 president)
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