James Cleverly is set to lose his role as Tory chairman next month, despite presiding over Labour’s biggest defeat since 1935.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to oust Mr Cleverly in his Cabinet reshuffle, and give his job to ex-Culture Secretary Maria Miller, who resigned in 2014 following a row over expenses.
The move is set to cause some consternation among Tory MPs.
One said: “It seems a bit ungrateful after he delivered such a huge Conservative majority, but that’s politics for you. Downing Street just doesn’t rate him.”
The move is said to be part of a big post-Brexit shake-up in the second week of February.
(Image: Getty)
Many women Mr Johnson appointed last year now face the chop, such as Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom, International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and welfare boss Therese Coffey.
Nicky Morgan, who got a peerage after the election to stay on as Culture Secretary, is now to step down.
Social care minister Caroline Dinenage and Treasury Secretary Rishi Sunak are up for promotion.
But insiders say ex-Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt will not be back because she did not instantly accept a role Mr Johnson offered her last year.
After resigning, Ms Miller agreed to pay back £5,800 of mortgage expenses.
MPs over-ruled Parliament’s standards commissioner, who said she had over-claimed £45,000.
