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As it happenedended1564084605

Boris Johnson news: New PM's Brexit plans instantly rejected by EU, as Tory minister says he is in a 'no-deal' cabinet

Follow how the day in Westminster unfolded

Ashley Cowburn
Political Correspondent
,Jane Dalton,Samuel Osborne
Thursday 25 July 2019 12:50 BST
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Boris Johnson: We will not nominate a UK commissioner for the new commission taking office in Brussels

Boris Johnson has been accused of pandering to the hard-right, as he convened his cabinet and faced MPs in the Commons for the first time as prime minister.

After a brutal reshuffle – clearing out the vast majority of Theresa May‘s ministers – it became clear the new prime minister had built his new government around the team that delivered the Brexit result in 2016.

Some of the ministerial appointments in Mr Johnson’s new administration were met with dismay, including the promotion of Priti Patel to the Home Office.

The prime minister also used the reshuffle at minister of state level to promote allies and clear out MPs who oppose his stance on Brexit.

The first changes announced included Nigel Adams, who returns to government after resigning over Ms May's Brexit tactics.

He has been a loyal supporter of Mr Johnson and was rewarded with a role at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Lucy Frazer moves from solicitor general to the Ministry of Justice.

Kit Malthouse, who was Mr Johnson's deputy mayor for policing during their time in London's City Hall, has become a Home Office minister.

Conor Burns has been appointed a minister at the Department for International Trade.

Nick Gibb retains his role at the Department for Education and Jesse Norman stays as financial secretary to the Treasury.

Follow how the day in Westminster unfolded:

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Boris Johnson has conducted a ruthless cabinet bloodbath to build his government around the team which delivered the Vote Leave result in the Brexit referendum.

Within hours of taking over from Theresa May as prime minister, Mr Johnson sacked 11 senior ministers, while six more walked out rather than serve under the new PM.

Key figures from the Brexit side of the EU referendum were catapulted into top jobs, with Priti Patel becoming home secretary and Dominic Raab foreign secretary while Vote Leave supremo Dominic Cummings will be “Johnson’s chief executive” as a senior No 10 adviser.

Ashley Cowburn25 July 2019 08:28
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This is from the former Conservative MP Nick Boles, who now sits as an independent in the Commons. He claims: "Boris Johnson isn't our new prime minister; Nigel Farage is."

Ashley Cowburn25 July 2019 09:02
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Boris Johnson’s new cabinet is proof that the Conservative party has “been fully taken over by the hard right,” former Tory MP Nick Boles says.

In an outspoken attack, the now Independent MP accused the party he quit over the threat of a no-deal Brexit of “turning themselves” into a copycat of Nigel Farage’s new party.

Promotions for chancellor Sajid Javid and Priti Patel, the new home secretary – and death penalty supporter – added up to a cabinet of “Thatcherites and no-deal Brexiters”, he said

Ashley Cowburn25 July 2019 09:08
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Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, has just been doorstepped on his way into the cabinet meeting by the BBC. 

Asked whether the new administration was a no-deal cabinet, he replied: "Yes - We'll leave on the 31 October.

"Make no mistake, this government is committed to leaving the European Union."

Ashley Cowburn25 July 2019 09:13
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Former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt quit the government last night after rejecting a move to defence secretary, telling Boris Johnson he would not take sacked Penny Mordaunt's job.

The former Tory leadership contender, who lost out to Mr Johnson by a margin of two-to-one on Tuesday in the race to succeed Theresa May, said that he would have been willing to stay on as foreign secretary.

But he rejected demotion to defence secretary, a role which Ms Mordaunt had held for less than three months before her dismissal by the new PM.

Ashley Cowburn25 July 2019 09:15
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During the first cabinet meeting of his premiership, with cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill sat to his right and Chancellor Sajid Javid on his left, Boris Johnson said it was "wonderful to see this new team assembled here" which respects the "depth and breadth of talent in our extraordinary party". 

Addressing the room, with all eyes on him, Mr Johnson added: "As you all know we have a momentous task ahead of us, at a pivotal moment in our country's history. We are now committed, all of us, to leaving the European Union on October 31 or indeed earlier - no ifs, no buts.

"But we are not going to wait until October 31 to get on with a fantastic new agenda for our country, and that means delivering the priorities of the people."

Ashley Cowburn25 July 2019 09:17
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Priti Patel, who was forced to resign from Theresa May’s government after revelations she had conducted secret meetings with the Israeli government, has been brought back into the Cabinet by new prime minister Boris Johnson.

Ms Patel, an ardent Leave campaigner will serve as home secretary, replacing Sajid Javid, who in turn will become Chancellor.

Supporters of Mr Johnson reportedly said he would appoint a “record number” of ethnic minority politicians and boost the number of women attending as full members of the Cabinet. 

Ashley Cowburn25 July 2019 09:30
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Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, has been requested to apologise to the House of Commons, after he incorrectly registered a financial interest late. 

In a statement published just minutes ago, the Committee on Standards, said: "It accepts, as does the Commissioner, that there was no intention to deceive. It does not consider that these constitute serious breaches of the rules, but observes that because there was more than one error, the Commissioner acted rightly in referring the matter to them.

"The Committee also notes that Mr Cox, as Attorney General, is the chief Law Officer of the Crown, as well as being an experienced Member of the House, and therefore should set a good example by scrupulous observance of the rules.

"The Committee recommends that Mr Cox should at the earliest opportunity apologise in writing to the House, through the Committee, for having registered a financial interest late and for having, albeit unintentionally, supplied wrong information about the date at which the interest became registrable. The written apology, when received, will be published on the Committee’s website."

Ashley Cowburn25 July 2019 09:38
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Jo Swinson, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has started a Early Day Motion in the Commons, and has asked MPs to add their signature to it. It calls for no confidence in new prime minister Boris Johnson. 

The motion effectively acts as a petition, and is non-binding, as only the Opposition (Labour) has the power to table a motion of no confidence in the government. 

Labour have already steered away from making such a move - they want to do it when they have the best chance of success, which insiders view as the autumn months, if his Brexit deal is unacceptable, or a no deal is on the horizon.

So far, 12 MPs have added their name to Ms Swinson's EDM - all of them are Liberal Democrats.

This is from the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg

Ashley Cowburn25 July 2019 09:53
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Here The Independent looks at which Tory MPs received arrived in Downing Street last night to be rewarded with cabinet posts 

Ashley Cowburn25 July 2019 10:07

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