Johnson chairs first Cabinet after ministers leave in dramatic reshuffle
Video report by ITV News Political Correspondent Carl Dinnen
Boris Johnson has chaired his first new-look Cabinet meeting after a dramatic reshuffle saw key figures quit and lose their jobs.
Mr Johnson, sat beside his newly-promoted chancellor, outlined a series of pledges for transport, health and the economy during a rousing speech to his new government on Friday morning
It comes in the aftermath of Sajid Javid standing down as chancellor after being told to sack his advisers and have them replaced by employees hand-picked by Number 10.
Boris Johnson delivers first speech to Cabinet after reshuffle
The surprise resignation sparked rumours the prime minster's hand has been forced by his closest adviser, Dominic Cummings.
Speaking to reporters on Friday morning, Julian Smith - sacked as Northern Ireland Secretary - said: "I think the prime minister is always in charge of things like the reshuffle. Lots of people provide advice, but there's a really good set of people now in the Cabinet."
Mr Javid yesterday accused the PM of setting conditions “any self-respecting minister” would reject – seen as a thinly veiled swipe at his successor.
The former chancellor chose to quit instead and was replaced by his former deputy at the Treasury, Rishi Sunak, in the biggest shock of Mr Johnson’s shake-up.
And he told Mr Johnson in his resignation letter that he believed it was “important as leaders to have trusted teams that reflect the character and integrity that you would wish to be associated with”.
The bombshell – less than a month before the Budget – follows tensions between the ex-chancellor and the PM’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings.
Speaking on Thursday, former Chancellor Sajid Javid said 'any self-respecting minister' would reject Number 10's conditions
In August, Mr Cummings fired Mr Javid’s aide Sonia Khan and it appears Number 10 wanted to go further in keeping a closer eye on him.
The move – viewed by critics as a power grab by Mr Cummings – means Britain is on to its third chancellor in a year.
On Friday morning, he ignored questions from reporters outside his home, instead opting for simply "good morning" before leaving in a taxi.
Downing Street refused to guarantee that next month’s Budget would go ahead as scheduled, with a spokesman saying only that “extensive preparations have already been carried out for the Budget and they will continue at pace”.
Mr Javid’s departure came after Julian Smith was unceremoniously dumped as Northern Ireland secretary just weeks after brokering the deal that restored the power-sharing administration at Stormont.
Who are the winners and losers of Boris Johnson's Cabinet reshuffle?
In other moves, Andrea Leadsom was sacked as business secretary, Theresa Villiers lost her job as environment secretary and Geoffrey Cox was removed from his post as attorney general.
Esther McVey lost her role as housing minister, and the total number of women attending Cabinet fell from eight to seven – while the total number of ministers attending shrank from 32 to 26.
Along with the ministerial exits, the reshuffle – which Downing Street insiders had predicted would be “conventional” before the row with Mr Javid – included promotions for MPs who are highly rated by Number 10.
Alok Sharma was promoted from international development to become the new Business Secretary and he will also be minister for the COP26 UN climate summit, which is due to take place in Glasgow in November.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan joined the Cabinet as International Development Secretary, having previously been a defence minister.
Oliver Dowden became a full Cabinet member as Culture Secretary, having previously attended the meetings as paymaster general, and George Eustice was promoted to Environment Secretary from his previous role in the same department.
Brandon Lewis was appointed as Northern Ireland Secretary, while former Brexit minister Suella Braverman returned to the Government as Attorney General.
Ex-Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay has replaced Mr Sunak as Treasury Chief Secretary.
Amanda Milling was made Conservative Party chairman – a role in which she will attend Cabinet as a minister without portfolio.
Former defence secretary Penny Mordaunt will return to Government as Paymaster General in the Cabinet Office.