Boris Johnson is set to use his thumping majority as a mandate to dramatically shake up his cabinet, rewarding the election’s star performers and firing those whose threatened to derail the campaign.
The Prime Minister, who has vowed to plow ahead with his new administration immediately, will waste no time reshuffling his top team to fill the vacancies left from the election fallout.
Former Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who was sacked by Mr Johnson in July, is rumoured to replace ex-Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan, who has stood down as an MP.
Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove is touted to have a beefed-up brief which includes leading post-Brexit trade negotiations, while Treasury minister Rishi Sunak is also in line for a promotion following his impressive showing in the TV debates.
Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg, Trade Secretary Liz Truss, and Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith are believed to be among the most at risk of being sacked.
Mr Johnson is expected to thrash out a mini-reshuffle as early as Monday to plug two other vacancies – Welsh Secretary and environment minister – before waiting until after Brexit in February to completely overhaul his cabinet.
Former Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who was sacked by Mr Johnson in July, is rumoured to replace ex-Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan, who has stood down as an MP
Jacob Rees-Mogg was absent from the election, fuelling speculation Number 10 had furiously sidelined him for his crass suggestion that Grenfell victims lacked ‘common sense’
Sajid Javid is the only minister guaranteed to remain in his job, with the PM pledging to stick with the Chancellor during the campaign.
He otherwise refused to be drawn on post-election cabinet reshuffles, including on the future of Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Once a frequent media performer for the party, the Commons leader was absent from the election, fuelling speculation Number 10 had furiously sidelined him for his crass suggestion that Grenfell victims lacked ‘common sense’.
Other ministers under threat of being ushered out include Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith, a Theresa May ally who was also benched during the campaign.
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay, whose comments on Northern Ireland trade clashed with the PM’s own remarks, risks having his position abolished under plans for his department to be absorbed into the Trade department.
International Development could also be subsumed by the Foreign Office, according to the Times.
Whereas Michael Gove, who memorably torpedoed Mr Johnson’s leadership bid in 2016, is touted to be in line for a promotion for continually going out to bat for he PM in media rounds.
The Vote Leave veteran is tipped to lead post-Brexit trade negotiations with the EU and other countries.
Likewise, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak, already seen as a rising star in the party, is expected to be rewarded for stepping up to do the seven-way debates.
Sajid Javid is the only minister guaranteed to remain in his job, with the PM pledging to stick with the Chancellor during the campaign.
Promotion? Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove is touted to lead a beefed-up Brexit department, while Treasury minister Rishi Sunak is also in line for a promotion following his impressive showing in the TV debates
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who also boasts the ceremonial title of first secretary of state making him the most senior cabinet minister, is unlikely to be chopped.
During a barnstorming victory speech to Conservative grassroots in London Friday morning, Mr Johnson hinted that Matt Hancock will stay put as Health Secretary.
The PM was underscoring his manifesto pledges of 50,000 more nurses and 40 more hospitals when he gestured down at Mr Hancock.
Penny Mordaunt’s mooted return to government would be a sideways move from Mr Johnson, who turfed her out of the Ministry of Defence after only 85 days in her ‘dream job’.
Ms Mordaunt, who supported Jeremy Hunts’s prime ministerial bid, was one of a raft of cabinet ministers fired as part of Mr Johnson’s brutal reshuffle where he punished people for backing his leadership rivals.
Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom is mooted as being ripe for sacking after failing to make her mark on the campaign
‘At risk’: Ministers under threat include Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith, a Theresa May ally who was also benched during the campaign. Stephen Barclay risks having his position abolished under plans for his department to be absorbed into the Trade department
However she is a strong media performer and a longtime Brexiteer who campaigned alongside Mr Johnson in the 2016 referendum.
Yet it is believed junior Home Office minister Victoria Atkins is also being sized up for the culture secretary role.
Mr Hunt himself could be set to make a return after demonstrating loyalty to the PM during the turbulent Parliamentary gridlock in October.
Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom and Trade Secretary Liz Truss are mooted as being ripe for sacking after failing to make their mark on the campaign.
The post of Welsh Secretary also needs filling following the snap resignation of Alun Cairns, who quit amid accusations he had knowingly endorsed a candidate which deliberately collapsed a rape trial.
The cabinet-level position of environment minister is also up for grabs in the wake of Zac Goldsmith’s defeat to the Lib Dems in Remain-backing Richmond.