Who will be in Boris Johnson's cabinet?

The new prime minister wants to keep some of his enemies close – but is also demanding devotion to an ultra-hard Brexit. How will he strike the balance?

Rob Merrick
Deputy Political Editor
Tuesday 23 July 2019 15:52 BST
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Boris Johnson begins by thanking Jeremy Hunt and Theresa May as he is announced as new Conservative Party leader

One of Boris Johnson’s first tasks in No 10 will be to pick a new cabinet – a task made more complicated by the swathe of top ministers who will follow Theresa May out of the government.

At least five heavyweights – including the chancellor and the de-facto deputy prime minister – are certain to leave, while others are likely to be sacked to create a fresh new team.

With Mr Johnson under pressure to unite the divided Tory party, yet having vowed to dismiss anyone not committed to a no-deal Brexit, who is he likely to appoint?

Chancellor

With Philip Hammond out of the door, the favourite to succeed him is Sajid Javid, the home secretary and ex-banker, who – despite floundering in the leadership race – emerged with his credentials strengthened.

A born-again Brexiteer, Mr Javid can be relied upon to back Mr Johnson’s hugely expensive no-deal Brexit preparations, avoiding the clashes between No 10 and No 11 that marred the May premiership.

Two women hope to get the job, treasury secretary Liz Truss and Andrea Leadsom, the former Commons leader – “That would be my ideal job,” she pleaded – but are likely to be disappointed.

Foreign Secretary

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, has grovelled for a top job by abandoning his opposition to a crash-out Brexit. Unlikely to reach No 11, could his compensation be the foreign office?

A truly left-field choice, to send shivers through EU capitals, would be that hard Brexiteer early champion of a Johnson succession – Jacob Rees-Mogg.

But perhaps the safe choice would be the incumbent? Jeremy Hunt has attacked Mr Johnson hard on the campaign trail, but has kissed-and-made-up in recent days. What better way to project unity – especially with the Iran crisis bubbling up?

Home Secretary

Mr Johnson has promised a woman will fill one of the top four jobs. Could his cabinet echo David Cameron’s first with a surprise female promotion to the home office?

It was Theresa May in 2010, how about Nicky Morgan – another hard Brexit opponent who has accepted the way the wind is blowing, or maybe Victoria Atkins, a little-known junior who has impressed with her work on modern slavery? More controversially, The Independent revealed Mr Johnson is considering the once-disgraced Priti Patel.

Who else is up?

Prominent Johnson supporters longing for a return to the ministerial car include former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who’s helping to run his campaign, Grant Shapps, Michael Fallon and Gavin Williamson – tipped as the deputy in all but name.

Who else is out?

The backbenches beckon for the cabinet’s pro-EU group of current “deputy” David Lidington, David Gauke, the justice secretary, Rory Stewart, the international development secretary, and Greg Clark, the business secretary – but not work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd, after her screeching U-turn.

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