Chief whip replaced and Rees-Mogg moved in Boris Johnson's Cabinet reshuffle

There is no calm in Boris Johnson's political situation as the Commons Speaker warned 'our words have consequences', ITV News Political Correspondent Romilly Weeks reports

The chief whip has been replaced and Jacob Rees-Mogg has moved under Boris Johnson's mini Cabinet reshuffle.

Chris Heaton-Harris will leave the Foreign Office to take Mark Spencer's previous role as he becomes chief whip - with Mr Spencer taking Jacob Rees-Mogg's role as leader of the House of Commons.

Mr Rees-Mogg will be remain in the Cabinet but as a minister for Brexit opportunities and government efficiency in the Cabinet Office.

Michael Ellis, who has become known for defending the PM in the Commons, takes the role of Cabinet Office minister alongside his current paymaster general job.

Changes made under the Cabinet reshuffle:

  • Jacob Rees-Mogg - was previously leader of the House of Commons. Becomes Brexit minister

  • Mark Spencer - was previously chief whip. Becomes leader of the Commons

  • Chris Heaton-Harris - was previously a Foreign Office minister. Becomes chief whip

  • Christopher Pincher - was previously minister at department for levelling up, housing and communities. Becomes treasurer Deputy Chief Whip.

  • Stuart Andrew - was previously deputy chief whip. Becomes housing minister

  • Heather Wheeler - becomes parliamentary secretary in the Cabinet Office, in addition to her role as assistant government whip

  • Michael Ellis - remains paymaster general and becomes Cabinet Office minister

  • James Cleverly - was previously Middle East minister. Becomes Europe minister

  • Wendy Morton - was previously a Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the transport department. Becomes a transport minister

'It was a pretty timid reshuffle because the prime minister desperate not to be sacked himself is not in a position to do much in the way of sacking,' Romilly Weeks explains

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The Cabinet changes follow the appointment of Stephen Barclay, the former Cabinet Office minister, as Mr Johnson's new chief of staff.

Mr Johnson has also changed his top team of Number 10 officials this week as he seeks to be seen as changing the culture in government following the partygate scandal.

Five advisers resigned in 24 hours last week, with former head of policy Munira Mirza quitting over Mr Johnson's refusal to apologise for making a Jimmy Savile reference when attacking Keir Starmer in the Commons.

Number 10 claimed the resignations of director of communications Jack Doyle, principal private secretary Martin Reynolds and chief of staff Dan Rosenfield had all been agreed with the PM.

Downing Street said the reshuffle would improve links between No 10 and Parliament.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "As the PM said last week, it is important that we both make immediate changes to improve both how the No 10 operation works and the work of the Cabinet Office, and further changes to strengthen Cabinet government and improve that vital connection between No 10 and Parliament.

"The changes being made today will strengthen that connection. We have changes to the whips' office, improving engagement with MPs and helping to drive the Government's ambitious agenda.

"We have a new Brexit opportunities minister, a role that's been created to drive forward the changes we are able to make now that we have left the EU, delivering on our post-Brexit agenda across Whitehall."