Prime minister Boris Johnson rearranged those at the top of government on Wednesday.
After completing his moves, the PM said: “The cabinet I have appointed today will work tirelessly to unite and level up the whole country.
“We will build back better from the pandemic and deliver on your priorities. Now let’s get on with the job.”
Here’s a breakdown of who’s in – and who’s now out.
Foreign secretary
Out: Dominic Raab
In: Liz Truss
In the biggest move, Dominic Raab has been kicked out of his role as foreign secretary after two years in the job. In recent weeks, he has been widely accused of mishandling the Afghanistan crisis and going on a family holiday as the Taliban took hold of the country.
Reporters on the ground believed he was pushing back against a demotion, and he has been appointed as the new justice secretary, lord chancellor and deputy prime minister.
Johnson’s administration did not have a deputy prime minister until now (though Raab previously held the role on a de facto basis).
The BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg tweeted: “No 10 keen for this not to be seen as demotion after Afghanistan – Raab gets Deputy PM title too, sources emphasising his experience as [a] lawyer.”
Liz Truss, international trade secretary, has been announced as Raab’s replacement. She is expected to keep her other role as women and equality’s minister.
Two of the great offices of state are now held by women after Truss was promoted and Priti Patel kept her role of home secretary despite speculation she would be sacked.
Truss has been rewarded after being seen to have made a success of her international trade secretary post.
While the government faced tough headlines about deadlock in the negotiations with the European Union during the Brexit transition period, the South West Norfolk MP made steady work of rolling over a host of trade deals for the UK, ensuring the terms agreed while an EU member were ready to continue after exiting the bloc.
Education secretary
Out: Gavin Williamson
In: Nadhim Zahawi
Gavin Williamson has been sacked as education secretary after a controversial run.
He faced extensive criticism for his handling of A-level and GCSE exams throughout the pandemic, while his public appearances often triggered widespread ridicule online.
Only last week, the 45-year-old MP for South Staffordshire faced further criticism after he said he had met footballer Marcus Rashford online – when he had instead talked to rugby player Maro Itoje.
Williamson tweeted that it had been a “privilege” to serve in the role since 2019, and that he is proud of his work.
Nadhim Zahawi, minister for business and industry since 2019 and vaccines minister since 2020, is set to take Williamson’s old role. He oversaw the successful national rollout of the Covid jabs.
Zahawi previously served as children and families minister in the Department for Education from January 2018 to July 2019.
Justice secretary
Out: Robert Buckland
In: Dominic Raab
Robert Buckland was fired as lord chancellor and justice secretary after two years on the job. He was a prominent supporter for the Remain campaign leading up the EU referendum. He previously served as prisons minister and was particularly popular with Labour MPs during his time on the front benches.
Dominic Raab is set to be Buckland’s replacement as justice secretary, and lord chancellor.
Buckland’s tenure will likely be marked by his determination to protect women and girls from sexual violence, but also major concerns over the state of the justice system on his watch.
Housing, communities and local government secretary
Out: Robert Jenrick
In: Michael Gove
Robert Jenrick was kicked out of the ministry for housing, communities and local government.
Michael Gove is set to be Jenrick’s replacement, having served as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster since July 2019. Gove’s role as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has been filled by Steve Barclay, who had been chief secretary to the Treasury.
The axe fell on Jenrick after a string of high-profile and damaging accusations, including the unlawful approval of a Tory donor’s housing development and his eyebrow-raising journeys during lockdown.
The PM has tasked Gove – his one-time saboteur – with taking on responsibility for his flagship “levelling up” agenda, the housing crisis and pushing through planning reforms that are a highly contentious point among Tory backbenchers.
Downing Street said he would also retain responsibility for the Union, another major role with Nicola Sturgeon fighting for Scottish independence.
Co-chair of the Conservative Party
Out: Amanda Milling
In: Oliver Dowden
Amanda Milling has been kicked out of her role as co-chair of the Conservative Party. This is a role mainly overseeing the administration of the Tory party which Milling was in from February 2020.
Oliver Dowden will be taking over from Milling, having served as the culture secretary since 2020.
International trade secretary
Out: Liz Truss
In: Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Liz Truss has been promoted to a more senior role of foreign secretary after her successful stint as the international trade secretary from 2019.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan, a junior business minister, has been appointed a her replacement. “Trade it is”, confirming her new cabinet role, she said as she left Number 10.
Digital, culture, media and sport secretary
Out: Oliver Dowden
In: Nadine Dorries
Oliver Dowden has been moved out of his role as culture secretary and put in as the co-chair of the Conservative Party. He hit the headlines over the last year for criticising the “noisy woke brigade” repeatedly in his role, seeking the privatisation of Channel 4 and the odd gaffe.
Nadine Dorries has been confirmed as Dowden’s replacement, having been a the minister for mental health, suicide prevention and patient safety since 2019. She has made provocative comments about the arts – including criticising the BBC for favouring “strident, very left wing, often hypocritical and frequently patronising views that turn people away”.
Other departments
The rest of the Cabinet – from chancellor Rishi Sunak and health secretary Sajid Javid to transport secretary Grant Shapps and Defra’s George Eustice – kept their jobs.
