Reshuffle: Javid resignation stuns Westminster

What was expected to be a modest reshuffle took a turn for the dramatic shortly before midday with the resignation of the Chancellor, Sajid Javid. In just twenty seven days time he was supposed to deliver his first Budget.

Johnson insisted that Javid sack all his advisers (SPADS) and replace them with a new joint team with Number 10. Javid resigned instead declaring “no self-respecting chancellor would accept these terms” according to a source close to him. This development provided a surprise conclusion -for now – to the duel for influence between Javid and Johnson’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings.

Javid is to be replaced by Rishi Sunak, who only became an MP in 2015 and became Chief Secretary to the Treasury in July 2019. This appointment of such an untested figure, albeit a rising star, and apparent plans to create new team of joint advisers for Number 10 and 11 shows that Johnson (and Cummings) are determined to assert strong central control over the government.

The cabinet reshuffle, ongoing at the time of writing, is increasingly looking like a move to firmly assert control, and head off potential dissidents down the line. Former leadership candidate, Andrea Leadsom, has lost her post as business secretary. However, Johnson may also have lacked confidence in Leadsom’s ability to effectively run the ministry given the criticism she had attracted in her prior role as Secretary for the Environment. In her place is Alok Sharma, promoted from his post as international development secretary, who will also now chair the COP26 climate change conference in November. Sharma’s old role will now be taken on Anne-Marie Trevelyan, less than two months after she became Minister for the Armed Forces.

Another former leadership candidate, and the current Secretary for the Environment, Theresa Villiers has also been sacked. While a great advocate of the sort of blue-collar conservatism this government is looking to cultivate she also has something of a patchy record as a minister. Villiers worked on the roll out of Universal Credit, and was criticised strongly for allegedly misleading parliament over it.

Another important sacking was Julian Smith, the departing Secretary for Northern Ireland. This move has provoked some criticism, not least from Northern Irish parties, as Smith was widely seen as having performed well in that role having helped broker a power-sharing agreement in Stormont after a three-year deadlock.

But his plan included the agreement that the British government would investigate historical crimes committed by British soldiers during the Troubles. The agreement raised the hackles of many Conservative MPs, and Boris Johnson is said to have felt “blindsided” by it. This independent streak also saw Smith question aspects of Johnson’s Brexit tactics last year – and it seems this administration prizes loyalty.

Attorney-General Geoffrey Cox has also gone. All may not be lost for Cox with him being widely tipped to chair the government’s upcoming constitutional review on the role of judicial review.

Two other mid-level ministers who have seen their heads rolls are the Minister for Housing Esther McVey, and Minister for Universities Chris Skidmore. Officials in both departments may be somewhat exasperated by the rate of turnover. There have now been ten housing ministers in ten years and five universities ministers in two years, and both ministries are facing important challenges with housing shortages in some areas and universities very exposed to potential changes caused by Brexit.

Transport is also being cleared out with the sacking of the Minister for Transport George Freeman, and the Under-Secretary for Transport Nusrat Ghani. The sacking of the latter in conjunction with Villiers and Leadsom may raise some questions about the gender balance in Johnson’s cabinet.

Still, Priti Patel has retained her role as Home Secretary. Also hanging on – it seems – is Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons. While his comments over Grenfell saw him exiled to the West Country during the election it seems Johnson has concluded he doesn’t want him on the backbenches causing trouble.

A final promotion to note Oliver Dowden who has taken over culture secretary, replacing Nicky Morgan who now sits in the House of Lords.

Update:

14:57 – Suella Braverman has replaced Geoffrey Cox as the attorney-general. A prominent Brexiteer and a barrister Braverman lacks the experience usually requisite for this post having not been appointed a QC.

15:25 – George Eustice has become the new environment secretary, promoted from his post as farming minister. Notably he stood as a candidate for UKIP the 1999 European elections.

16:16 – Brandon Lewis is taking Julian Smith’s place as the Northern Ireland secretary.

17:33 – Stephen Barclay appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury.