Liz Truss has kicked supporters of her leadership rival Rishi Sunak out of government as she begins appointing a cabinet of close political allies. Prominent ministers in Boris Johnson’s cabinet, including Dominic Raab, Grant Shapps and Steve Barclay, all announced they were returning to the back tables shortly after Mrs Truss entered Downing Street for the first time as prime minister. Kwasi Kwarteng, Therese Coffey and Suella Braverman, all allies of Ms Truss tipped for top cabinet posts, were seen heading for No 10. A former special adviser to a minister in Mr Johnson’s cabinet told the Independent he feared the new prime minister was creating a “cabinet of cronies”. In her first speech as prime minister, Mrs Truss promised to “tackle the issues holding Britain back” and listed her top three priorities for running the country. From a lectern outside 10 Downing Street, the new UK leader said she wanted to “make Britain work”, “tackle the energy crisis” and “put our health services on a solid footing”.
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Therese Coffey is headed to No 10, expected to be deputy prime minister
Therese Coffey was the third politician to enter Downing Street tonight. He stood at the open door of Number 10 and posed for the media. Boris Johnson’s Work and Pensions Secretary is expected to be appointed Deputy Prime Minister by Liz Truss. Liam James6 September 2022 18:42 1662485788
Liz Truss kicks out Sunak backers as she makes ‘coach cabinet’
Liz Truss has carried out a brutal purge of supporters of her leadership rival Rishi Sunak as she begins the process of appointing a cabinet of close political allies (writes Andrew Woodcock). Within 40 minutes of her motorcade arrival at Downing Street following her audience with the Queen at Balmoral, the new prime minister fired a trio of prominent supporters of the former chancellor. Boris Johnson’s former deputy prime minister Dominic Raab, health secretary Steve Barclay and transport secretary Grant Shapps announced they were returning to the benches, after home secretary Priti Patel and culture secretary Nadine Dorries left voluntarily last night. Mr Shapps is believed to have hoped to continue in a ministerial post after the handover. But a former special adviser to a minister in Boris Johnson’s former cabinet told the Independent he feared the new prime minister was creating a “cabinet of cronies”.
Liz Truss clears up Sunak backers as she makes ‘coach cabinet’
Liz Truss has carried out a brutal purge of supporters of her leadership rival Rishi Sunak as she begins the process of appointing a cabinet of close political allies. Liam James6 September 2022 18:36 1662485499
Watch: Downing Street staff welcome the Prime Minister
Here’s a look at Downing Street staff welcoming the new head of household: Liam James6 September 2022 18:31 1662485199
Suella Braverman heads to No 10, tipped for the Home Office
Suella Braverman came in at Number 10. The attorney general and former leadership candidate walked up Downing Street, waving and smiling at the waiting press. She is the frontrunner to replace Priti Patel as home secretary. Liam James6 September 2022 18:26 1662484959
The US is friends with the people of the UK, not just the government, the White House says
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had this to say about the so-called special relationship between the UK and the US: “Our countries have a close, long-standing special relationship as NATO friends and allies, and we look forward to continuing to work closely on key priorities, including supporting Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression and addressing challenges posed by China. “We see our relationship not only with the leadership, but also with the people of the UK.” That last line could reflect the White House anticipating a clash with Britain in the near future. Commentators expect US President Joe Biden to take Liz Truss to task over her plan to destroy post-Brexit trade arrangements for Northern Ireland. Liam James6 September 2022 18:22 1662484576
Steve Barkley out
Steve Barclay has announced that he is no longer Health Secretary and will return to the backbenches. Boris Johnson has handed Barkley the health role as the former prime minister desperately tries to fill his cabinet after a series of ministerial resignations forced him to announce he is stepping down. Barclay was previously Brexit secretary under Theresa May and later Johnson. Liam James6 September 2022 18:16 1662484343
Quasi Kwarteng heads to No.10
Kwasi Kwarteng has been spotted entering No 10 as Liz Truss prepares to announce her cabinet. Mr Kwarteng, Boris Johnson’s business secretary, is expected to be the new prime minister’s choice for chancellor. Liam James6 September 2022 18:12 1662483870
Grant Shapps out
Grant Shapps has announced he will not serve in Liz Truss’ government. Boris Johnson appointed Mr Shapps transport secretary on his first day as prime minister, on July 24, 2019, and Welwyn Hatfield MP has remained in his post until today, notably without resigning along with dozens of Tory colleagues to force Johnson to resign. Mr Shapps follows Priti Patel and Dominic Raab out of cabinet. Liam James6 September 2022 18:04 1662483466
Dominic Raab is out
Dominic Raab has announced that he will step down as Justice Secretary and return to the background. Raab was a key figure in Boris Johnson’s cabinet, holding the post of deputy prime minister alongside the justice role, which he took up after an ignominious exit from the Foreign Office when he refused to return from leave during the Afghanistan evacuation in the west. Liz Truss is to announce her new cabinet tonight. Liam James6 September 2022 17:57 1662483188
William Hague mocks Boris Johnson’s exit speech
Former Conservative leader William Hague mocked Boris Johnson’s parting description of himself as a “booster rocket”, a metaphor used by the outgoing prime minister in his final speech beyond Downing Street earlier today. Lord Hague said: “It’s amusing, you know, that it’s a booster – it’s a missile booster that’s going to fall into the Pacific – but it’s tragic, really, that it was a missile booster that had its guidance system fail.” Lord Hague was Conservative leader from 1997 to 2001, stepping down after the Conservatives failed to make ground in the 2001 election, the election in which Johnson first entered the Commons, taking the seat of Henley from the resigned Michael Heseltine. Liam James6 September 2022 17:53
