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Sajid Javid has resigned as chancellor and number of high profile cabinet ministers have been sacked as Boris Johnson reshuffles his cabinet.
Julian Smith, now former Northern Ireland secretary, was the first to go, with business secretary Andrea Leadsom, Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, housing minister Esther McVey and environment secretary Theresa Villiers among those to follow.
Alok Sharma is expected to be promoted from his current cabinet post at international development, while Paymaster General Oliver Dowden – who attends cabinet – is also in line for a bigger job.
The prime minister is conducting his first reshuffle since his landslide election victory.
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Michael Gove remains Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Downing Street said.
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Jacob Rees-Mogg appeared before MPs at the weekly business questions session in his role as Commons Leader.
SNP Commons leader Tommy Sheppard said: “I suppose we should congratulate the Leader of the House for surviving the current Cabinet cull that is under way – at least thus far.”
Mr Rees-Mogg joked if he was “suddenly called away” then Nadine Dorries, a health minister sat next to him on the front bench, would be “more than able to take over for the rest of the session”.
Members of the lobby are reporting that Rishi Sunak will be the next Chancellor
Sajid Javid quit as Chancellor after Number 10 ordered him to sack his team of aides, a source close to the former minister said.
In a dramatic move which follows rumours of tensions between the ex-chancellor and Boris Johnson’s closest aide Dominic Cummings, Mr Javid said that “no self-respecting minister” could accept the condition being imposed.
A source close to Mr Javid has said:
He has turned down the job of Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The Prime Minister said he had to fire all his special advisers and replace them with Number 10 special advisers to make it one team.
The Chancellor said no self-respecting minister would accept those terms.
Dominic Raab remains as Foreign Secretary, Downing Street said.
Sajid Javid has resigned from his position as Chancellor.
Gove arrives
Michael Gove, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has walked through the Downing Street gates and into Number 10
More ministers arrive
Home Secretary Priti Patel has arrived on Downing Street, and did not say anything as she went into Number 10.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab greeted photographers on his way into Number 10, but did not answer when asked whether he was confident he would be keeping his job.
Cox’s letter
Geoffrey Cox said:
I am now leaving the Government at the PM’s request. I shall continue to represent and stand up strongly for the interests of Torridge and West Devon.
Chancellor Sajid Javid has arrived on Downing Street and walked quickly into Number 10, following Boris Johnson, who is set to announce new appointments after his cull.
Geoffrey Cox has confirmed he has been sacked as Attorney General.
He said:
I have been truly privileged to have served as Attorney General during the recent turbulent political times.
Questions over Cox
Geoffrey Cox was missing from Attorney General’s questions in the Commons as speculation mounted that he too had been sacked.
Solicitor General Michael Ellis fielded questions from MPs in his place.
Theresa Villiers has been sacked as environment secretary “to make way for someone new”, she said.
Latest on the high-profile sackings:
Leadsom becomes the third sacking
More on Smith sacking
Julian Smith’s departure comes just weeks after brokering the deal which restored the powersharing administration in Stormont.
Speculation about Mr Smith’s position centred on the terms of the Stormont deal, amid Tory concerns it could pave the way for prosecutions of British soldiers.
But allies of the axed minister said it was “absolute crap” to suggest that Mr Johnson and Number 10 had not been kept informed of the process and details of the deal.
