Boris Johnson reshuffles Cabinet as Liz Truss made Foreign Secretary
The Prime Minister says he wants to build a "strong and united" Cabinet
Last updated 24th May 2022
Prime Minister is making big changes to the cabinet this afternoon with a reshuffle of many of his top team.
Liz Truss has been appointed new Foreign Secretary, replacing Dominic Raab who is moved to the roles of Justice Secretary, Lord Chancellor and Deputy Prime Minister.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson was the first to be axed from Cabinet on Wednesday afternoon, closely followed by Justice Secretary Robert Buckland and Robert Jenrick from housing.
It was later announced that Nadhim Zahawi will go from being vaccines minister to Education Secretary, replacing Gavin Williamson.
Mr Jenrick's sacking from Cabinet comes after controversy surrounding his unlawful approval of a Tory donor's housing development.
Michael Gove replaces Mr Jenrick at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, while also taking on cross-government responsibility for Mr Johnson’s “levelling up” agenda.
Oliver Dowden moves from culture secretary to replace Ms Milling as co-chairman of the Tory Party, as well as holding the title Minister without Portfolio.
Nadine Dorries, a best-selling author and former star of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, becomes Culture Secretary.
Nadhim Zahawi replaced Mr Williamson as Education Secretary while Steve Barclay succeeded Mr Gove as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Cabinet Office minister.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan replaces Liz Truss saying “Trade it is”, confirming her new cabinet role as International Trade Secretary, as she left Number 10.
Departures from the cabinet
Gavin Williamson, who has been sacked as Education Secretary had been under repeated pressure to resign as Education Secretary since his handling of disruption to schools during the pandemic, with many GCSE and A-level students being forced to miss out on desired grades due to cancelled exams.
The 45-year-old MP also came under fire last week after claiming to have met England footballer Marcus Rashford, confusing him for the rugby player Maro Itoje.
Williamson said "it has been a privilege to serve as education secretary since 2019", adding that the Prime Minister his Government will continue to receive his support from the back benches.
Mr Jenrick also stated that he'll keep supporting the Prime Minister and that he was "deeply proud of all we achieved".
Despite the courts system being under considerable strain during the pandemic, there was no specific reason given about Robert Buckland's departure as justice secretary.
Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy said that the Government has "run the justice system into the ground".
Priti Patel remains as Home Secretary while Rishi Sunak keeps his role as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Ben Wallace also keeps his job as Defence Secretary.