Rishi Sunak has begun to appoint MPs to his Cabinet after sacking a string of ministers in a major clear-out within hours of becoming Prime Minister.
Jeremy Hunt has stayed in the role of Chancellor while Dominic Raab has been named Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary in the first appointments. Simon Hart was appointed Chief Whip.
Earlier Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg resigned, some ministers appeared to have been given time to quit before being sacked, and others were chopped as Mr Sunak cleared out former Prime Minister Liz Truss’s Cabinet.
Jacob Rees-Mogg resigned as Business Secretary and Brandon Lewis quit as Justice Secretary.
Work and Pensions Secretary Chloe Smith was sacked by the new Prime Minister and said she would support his premiership from the back benches.
Development minister Vicky Ford who attended cabinet under Liz Truss was also ousted from her job at the Foreign Office on Tuesday afternoon.
Jake Berry has said he has left his position as Conservative Party chairman. Levelling-up secretary Simon Clarke has also gone.
Mr Sunak, having dismissed Cabinet ministers in the Prime Minister’s Commons office, then returned to No10 to appoint their replacements.
Earlier, Mr Sunak said he “has work to do to restore trust” as he spoke for the first time after becoming Prime Minister.
“I will unite our country, not with words but, with action. I will work day in and day out to deliver for you,” Mr Sunak said outside No10 Downing St.
It comes after Liz Truss left No10 for the last time, saying in a speech that there were “brighter days lie ahead”.
Cabinet reshuffle in full
Simon Hart has been confirmed as the Chief Whip, replacing Wendy Morton.
Jeremy Hunt has shares his delight at being reappointed Chancellor by Rishi Sunak, saying “protecting the vulnerable” will be his priority.
He wrote on Twitter: shortly before 4.20pm: “Honoured to serve our country, and @RishiSunak, as Chancellor of the Exchequer. It is going to be tough.
“But protecting the vulnerable - and people’s jobs, mortgages and bills - will be at the front of our minds as we work to restore stability, confidence and long-term growth.”
The pound has surged further to strike its highest level since before Liz Truss’s Government’s mini-budget announcement last month.
Sterling lifted 1.9% higher to 1.149 against the US dollar after Rishi Sunak’s appointment as Prime Minister.
Meanwhile 30-year gilt yields, which determine the interest that the Government pays on some of its loans, were 0.1 percentage points lower at 3.65%.
MPs Nadhim Zahawi, current Home Secretary Grant Shapps and Suella Braverman have all been seen entering No10.
Ms Braverman is the first female MP to be seen entering during Mr Sunak’s reshuffle.
Dominic Raab has been appointed deputy prime minister and justice secretary.
Mr Raab previously held both of the roles under prime minister Boris Johnson.
Mr Hunt is so far the only cabinet member to be appointed by Rishi Sunak.
Other MPs James Cleverly, Dominic Raab and Oliver Dowden have also been seen entering No 10, and it is thought others could already be inside.
Jeremy Hunt leaving Downing Street
MP James Cleverly, foreign secretary under Liz Truss, has been seen entering No 10.
He was swiftly followed by Oliver Dowden, who served as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from 2020 to 2021.
Jeremy Hunt has kept his position as Chancellor of the Exchequer under new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He is the first member of Mr Sunak’s Cabinet to be appointed.
Mr Hunt nodded as he left No 10, as he was asked by reporters gathered outside “can you fix the economy?”
Dominic Raab, former deputy prime minister, was the first MP to be seen entering No 10, as Rishi Sunak carries out his Cabinet reshuffle.
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