Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet reshuffle in full as Zahawi replaced and 4 new departments created
Rishi Sunak has reshuffled his Cabinet to replaced sacked Tory chairman Nadhim Zahawi and carried out a sweeping overhaul of Whitehall departments.
Trade Minister Greg Hands has been named as the new Tory chairman after Mr Zahawi was fired for breaching the ministerial code in a row over his tax affairs.
Mr Sunak has created four new Whitehall departments including a new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and a Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
There will be a new combined Department for Business and Trade, while the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has lost its digital focus.
Business Secretary Grant Shapps becomes the new Energy Security Secretary, while Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan will be the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.
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Getty)
Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch becomes Secretary of State for Business and Trade. She keeps her role as Minister for Women and Equalities.
Lucy Frazer, a Housing Minister, has been promoted to a Cabinet post to become the new Culture Secretary.
It comes after weeks of bad headlines for the Prime Minister over his scandal-hit ministers as he struggles to turn around his party’s dire poll ratings.
His pledge to govern with “integrity, professionalism and accountability” when he entered No10 more than a 100 days ago was called into question by the row over Mr Zahawi’s tax affairs and the bullying claims dogging Deputy PM Dominic Raab.
Under-fire Deputy PM Dominic Raab will stay in post while an independent probe into a string of bullying allegations against him is completed.
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PA)
Downing Street has resisted calls to sack Mr Raabe and repeatedly said that top KC Adam Tolley must be allowed to complete his investigation.
Eight formal complaints – said to involve at least 24 officials – are being probed from Mr Raab’s stints at the Ministry of Justice, the Foreign Office and the now defunct Brexit department.
The Tory chairman post will be key in the run up to the local elections in May, which will provide Mr Sunak with his first major electoral test since taking office.
Reshuffle in full
- Grant Shapps as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Michelle Donelan as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
- Kemi Badenoch as Secretary of State for Business and Trade. She remains as President of the Board of Trade and Minister for Women and Equalities
- Lucy Frazer as Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport
- Greg Hands as Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office (Party Chairman)