Rishi Sunak reshuffle – live: PM finally replaces Zahawi, but Raab survives
PM appoints loyal ally and reveals Whitehall shake-up
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Rishi Sunak has announced a mini-reshuffle as he replaces his sacked Tory chairman Nadhim Zahawi and tries to boost his party’s disastrous poll ratings.
The prime minister’s loyal ally Greg Hands has been named as successor for Mr Zahawi, sacked for breaching the ministerial code over his tax affairs.
The PM has broken up the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) into separate ministries – creating a new energy department and merging trade into business.
Business secretary Grant Shapps has been moved to become the new energy and net zero secretary, while Kemi Badenoch is promoted to business and trade secretary as part of the Whitehall shake up.
Mr Sunak has also split the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) department. Michelle Donelan has a new role as science and technology secretary, while Lucy Frazer replaces her as culture secretary.
Meanwhile, deputy PM Dominic Raab has survived the mini-reshuffle, despite growing pressure for him to stand down as the investigation into bullying allegations takes place.
Minister declines to comment on reports of mini reshuffle
Development minister Andrew Mitchell declined to comment on reports of a mini reshuffle being planned by Rishi Sunak.
According to The Times newspaper, Mr Mitchell is one of those linked to the role of Tory chairman to replace the sacked Nadhim Zahawi.
He told GB News: “Well, these are matters way above my paygrade and they are matters for the prime minister, but I'm very happy indeed doing a job which I've done before and loved very much, which is the international development job and I'm going to do my best, particularly today, to see that Britain puts its shoulder to the wheel and that we save as many lives as we can.”
He also defended the position of Dominic Raab as deputy prime minister, amid calls for him to stand aside while an investigation is ongoing into bullying allegations, saying there is a “process around these allegations” and it “should be followed”.
‘Wait and see’ if Rishi Sunak will reshuffle cabinet
Andrew Griffiths, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, would not comment on reports that Rishi Sunak is poised for a mini-reshuffle and reorganisation of government departments.
Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “If the prime minister has got something to say on how to reorganise government then we’ll have to wait and see that. What I’m talking about this morning is the very exciting prospect of a digital pound.”
The government has announced a consultation on plans to introduce a secure digital currency.
Johnson and Truss should admit blame for ‘chaos’, says ex-Tory leader
Boris Johnson and Liz Truss should stop blaming others for their failures and take responsibility for helping sow “chaos”, former Tory leader William Hague has said.
In a scathing attack on the ex-prime ministers – both booted out of No 10 by their own party last year – Mr Hague suggested that they were scapegoating after “completely screwing things up”.
More details here:
Boris Johnson and Liz Truss should admit blame for ‘chaos’, says ex-Tory leader
Troublesome ex-PMs ducking responsibility for ‘failure’, says William Hague
Cabinet meeting delayed until this afternoon
Rishi Sunak has pushed back his cabinet meeting until mid-afternoon to allow for the big announcements to be made this morning, according to reports.
New science, tech and innovation department?
Michelle Donelan’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) department is set to be broken up this morning – with a new ministry dedicated to science and digital. Reports suggest it will be called the department for Science, innovation and technology.
Sources at the Department for International Trade told The Independent they have not been told what will happen to the department this morning. There is widespread expectation it will be split into energy and separate department for business and trade.
Nadine Dorries ‘sad’ her old department to be broken up
Boris Johnson loyalist Nadine Dorries said it was “sad” that her former Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport looksset to be broken up.
The ex-culture secretary said the department has “tragically lacked profile of late” despite being the most effective in Whitehall.
“Track record in tech, digital, gigabit roll out, telecoms, data speaks for itself,” Ms Dorries said on Twitter.
BP profits show ‘outrageous’ failure of windfall tax, says Labour
As we wait for the reshuffle announcements, it has emerged that BP profits more than doubled to £23bn last year amid a spike in oil and gas prices during Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Labour’s shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband said it was “outrageous” that Rishi Sunak had failed to implement a “proper” windfall tax on energy companies.
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey MP said: “Rishi Sunak has failed the people of this country by ignoring calls for a proper windfall tax.”
BP profits double to record £23bn after spike in oil and gas prices
Friends of the Earth says BP’s profits ‘will be yet more salt in the wound for millions of people who’ve struggled to afford to stay warm and well this winter’
Miliband: Tories ‘got it wrong’ by scrapping energy department
Labour’s shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband said that it looked like Rishi Sunak was now admitting that the decision to get rid of the Department of Energy in 2016 was a mistake – amid widespread expectation a separate ministry will be set up again.
“So seven years after the disastrous decision to abolish the Department of Energy, the Conservatives now admit they got it wrong, but a rearranging of deckchairs on the sinking Titanic of failed Conservative energy policy will not rescue the country,” the Labour MP tweeted.
Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, said bringing in energy department would be a “positive step”, but added: “But, by itself, changing Whitehall machinery doesn’t get you better energy policy. Changing energy policy is also what’s needed.”
Shapps new energy secretary? Badenoch moved to business?
Business secretary Grant Shapps is set to be named the new energy secretary, while Kemi Badenoch (currently international trade secretary) is set to become the new business and trade secretary as part of the big BEIS shake up, according to The Times.
The newspaper’s political editor also hears that Greg Hands will replace Nadhim Zahawi as the Tory party chairman.
Greg Hands ‘new Tory chairman’
Junior trade minister Greg Hands is taking over from Nadhim Zahawi as the Conservative party, according to multiple reports.
A big supporter of Rishi Sunak, the MP for Hammersmith and Fulham has previously enjoyed roles as Treasury secretary and deputy chief whip.
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