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 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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This is from the Press Association on Brandon Lewis's interview this morning. He was appointed the new party chairman on Monday.
The newly-appointed Conservative chairman has said the party is "not quite" in a mess as Theresa May continues her widely-criticised reshuffle of Government posts.
Brandon Lewis said there had been an influx of talent on the first day of the shake-up and insisted there would be a "really good breath of fresh air coming in" as changes are made in the lower ministerial ranks.
The Prime Minister was thwarted in a planned bid to reshape her top team as Education Secretary Justine Greening quit rather than switch to the Work and Pensions portfolio, and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was reported to have dug in after turning down the role of Business Secretary.
Mr Lewis told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What we have seen yesterday is a real influx of new talent, not just my position itself, obviously."
The chairman sidestepped questions over how many members the party now has following years of dwindling numbers.
"I'm very focused on growing our party," he said.
Pressed on whether the party is in a mess, Mr Lewis replied "not quite" but admitted there was a "job of work" to be done.
Mrs May faced calls to be more courageous in bringing about change and diversity to refresh the look of the Government.
After a day of little movement in the top ranks, and many social media mistakes, veteran Tory grandee Sir Nicholas Soames tweeted: "I don't mean to be rude or to be seen to be disloyal but there needs to be a major improvement to the Reshuffle tomorrow £doitwell."
Former Tory chairman Grant Shapps, who was accused of trying to oust Mrs May after last June's disastrous election for the Conservatives, told BBC Newsnight: "Clearly, to be blunt, it wasn't a brilliantly executed performance with the reshuffle today."
As the new Cabinet meets on Tuesday for the first time, few faces are different as the "big four" of Chancellor Philip Hammond, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Amber Rudd and Brexit Secretary David Davis all remain in place.
And so too do Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, Business Secretary Greg Clark and Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom, despite widespread speculation that Mrs May would demote them.
Ms Greening, who could now become a backbench Brexit thorn in the Prime Minister's side, was succeeded as Education Secretary by Damian Hinds.
The job Ms Greening turned down, Work and Pensions Secretary, was given instead to Esther McVey, who triggered controversy when she was a junior minister in the department under David Cameron.
The big winner of the shake-up was former Justice Secretary David Lidington, who replaced Damian Green as Minister for the Cabinet Office, but was not awarded the title of First Secretary of State enjoyed by his predecessor.
However, Mr Lidington will fill in for Mrs May at Prime Minister's Questions and take on some of the responsibilities for chairing influential Cabinet committees, including some relating to Brexit.
Other casualties of the second day of the reshuffle included MP Robert Goodwill, who loses his job as minister for children and families, Philip Dunne, who is removed as health minister and John Hayes, who is leaving the Department for Transport.
Downing Street has yet to provide official confirmation of the latest round of changes.
Alok Sharma appointed as minister for employment at the Department for Work and Pensions - Downing Street
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