Cabinet reshuffle - as it happened: Theresa May hails new generation of 'gifted' ministers as she finishes day two of shakeup

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Theresa May's cabinet reshuffle: Key positions

Theresa May finished her new year’s reshuffle with a raft of new appointments for young Conservative MPs, claiming it “allows a new generation of gifted ministers to set up and make life better for people”.

She said the Government was about "building a country fit for the future – one that truly works for everyone with a stronger economy and a fairer society.

“This reshuffle helps us do just that by bringing fresh talent into Government, boosting delivery in key policy areas like housing, health and social care, and ensuring the Government looks more like the country it serves.

But the reshuffle of top posts – or lack of reshuffle – on Monday will likely overshadow the Prime Minister’s attempt to reboot her Government.

Yesterday several ministers refused to be moved on from their jobs – in a challenge to the PM’s authority – and Justine Greening walked out of Government and resigned from her post as Education Secretary after turning down a new role at the Department for Work and Pensions.

And on Tuesday, Toby Young quit his post with the higher education watchdog with an apology for his homophobic and misogynistic comments – just two days after the Prime Minister backed him to stay. The controversial right-wing journalist stepped down amid a hail of criticism over his offensive comments about women’s breasts, gay people, the disabled and starving children in Africa.

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Key Points

• Theresa May hails 'gifted' new ministers as she concludes reshuffle
• Toby Young steps down from universities regulator after becoming a 'distraction'
• Tory minister who asked secretary to buy him sex toy sacked
• May's big reshuffle hits a small snag after ministers refuse to be reshuffled
• Justine Greening quits as Education Secretary after rejecting move to DWP
• Damian Hinds named as replacement for Education Secretary

[9 January 2018 09:30 · Ashley Cowburn]

The Conservative Party's newly appointed chairman Brandon Lewis defended Mrs May's handling of Toby Young.

"I think she did show clear leadership in wanting a team of people who are passionate about education," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

[9 January 2018 09:38 · Ashley Cowburn]

[9 January 2018 09:47 · Ashley Cowburn]

[9 January 2018 09:57 · Ashley Cowburn]

[9 January 2018 10:03 · Ashley Cowburn]

[9 January 2018 10:10 · Ashley Cowburn]

Here is some reaction to Esther McVey's appointment as the new Work and Pensions Secretary (the fifth within two years) from the Labour benches: 

[9 January 2018 10:14 · Ashley Cowburn]

Commenting on Mr Davis's letter, Labour former minister Pat McFadden, who supports the Open Britain campaign for close ties with the EU, said: "The Government is implicitly threatening a no-deal scenario.

"It should come as no surprise that the EU is also preparing for this possibility.

"It seems extraordinary that the Government is exercised about the EU preparing for a no deal scenario when it has set aside £3 billion in its most recent Budget to do exactly the same thing."

[9 January 2018 10:22 · Ashley Cowburn]

[9 January 2018 10:25 · Ashley Cowburn]

Here's a peak inside the first Cabinet meeting of 2018 - unfortunately Jeremy Hunt is blocking the Prime Minister's face.

[9 January 2018 10:28 · Ashley Cowburn]

According to reports the International Trade Minister Mark Garnier has lost his ministerial role. 

He was recently cleared by a Cabinet Office inquiry into standards of behaviour after admitting asking his secretary to buy sex toys several years ago.