15.07.14
Lewis promoted to minister of state at DCLG
Brandon Lewis has been promoted to minister of state at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) as part of David Cameron’s wide-ranging Cabinet reshuffle.
Lewis, who was appointed parliamentary under-secretary of state at the DCLG in September 2012, Tweeted that he was “honoured to be made Minister of State”.
Despite speculation that Eric Pickles could have been replaced as secretary of state, it has now been confirmed he will remain in his current role.
But Penny Mordaunt MP has been appointed a communities minister - which forms part of a move by the PM to promote younger ministers and women. Prior to the announcement, she had been tipped for promotion since she gave a speech proposing the loyal address at the start of the Queen's Speech debate.
However, Michael Gove has been demoted from his post as education secretary to become the new chief whip.
Cameron tweeted that Gove will have an “enhanced role in campaigning and doing broadcast media interviews”. He will be replaced by Cabinet newbie Treasury minister Nicky Morgan, who will continue as minister for women and equalities, as the PM has promoted more women to top jobs.
She will potentially be seen as a more conciliatory figure who could “reach out” to teaching unions going forward, the party hopes. In another big move, and new appointment to Cabinet, Liz Truss, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for education and childcare, will replace Owen Paterson as environment secretary.
William Hague has been appointed as First Secretary of State, and Leader of the Commons, and will be replaced by Philip Hammond as Foreign Secretary. Replacing Hammond at the Ministry of Defence will be business minister Michael Fallon – another Cabinet debutant.
However, there are many others who have felt the power of the reshuffle: David Jones has been sacked as Welsh secretary; David Willetts is sacked as universities minister; Sir George has resigned as chief whip; Hugh Robertson has quit as Foreign Office minister; and energy minister Greg Barker has gone.
Other notable names making exits include Nick Hurd, who has quit his job as minister for civil society; Alan Duncan, has resigned as international development minister; Andrew Robathan , has resigned as Northern Ireland minister; and Damian Green, has resigned as policing minister.
Former chancellor Ken Clarke, who has been a political heavyweight for more than a generation, and who attended Cabinet as minister without portfolio, has also left the government.
Greg Clark has been appointed as minister for universities and science in addition to his current role as Minister of State; and deputy Wales minister Stephen Crabb has been appointed as secretary of state for Wales.
Former immigration minister Mark Harper has been appointed as minister of state at the Department for Work and Pensions.
Nick Boles has been appointed as minister of state jointly for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education.
Mike Penning has been appointed as minister of state at the Home Office and minister of state at the Ministry of Justice.
Matt Hancock has been appointed as minister of state for the Department for Business and the Department of Energy & Climate Change. He is also now the minister of state for Portsmouth.
Jeremy Wright MP has been appointed as Attorney General. And Baroness Stowell has been appointed as leader of the House of Lords and chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Penny Mordaunt MP has become a communities minister, she had been tipped for promotion since she gave a speech proposing the loyal address at the start of the Queen's Speech debate.
Amber Rudd has now become an energy minister, and Claire Perry has been appointed a transport minister. Anna Soubry, a junior defence minister, has been given a promotion and made a minister of state at the Ministry of Defence. Priti Patel has also been made Exchequer secretary at the Treasury. She replaces David Gauke, who has been promoted to financial secretary to the Treasury.
Oliver Letwin, the Cabinet Office minister in charge of government policy, has been given a token promotion and becomes Lord Privy Seal. John Hayes, who will continue as a Cabinet Office minister, has also become a transport minister.
This afternoon it was revealed that Brooks Newmark has been appointed as parliamentary secretary at the Cabinet Office; Ed Vaizey has been promoted to minister of state at the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills with responsibility for digital industries.
Andrew Murrison has been appointed as parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Northern Ireland Office. George Freeman has been appointed as parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Business Department and Department of Health.
Other notable appointments include Julian Brazier as parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Ministry of Defence; Desmond Swayne has been appointed as minister of state at the Department for International Development; Robert Buckland is now the Solicitor General; and Nick Gibb is returning to government as minister of state at the Department for Education.
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