Rishi Sunak, Britain's new Prime Minister, faces the toughest in-tray of any British leader since World War II: He enters No. 10 Downing Street as the country hurtles into winter with energy bills, hospital waiting lists, borrowing costs and inflation all soaring.
His task was never going to be easy, but it is made all the worse by the fact that former PM Liz Truss’ infamous mini-budget, which was scrapped almost in its entirety after causing chaos in financial markets, has resulted in Tory popularity dropping to historic lows, with polls predicting that if an election were to happen now, the Conservative Party would be all but wiped out.
Naturally, the new PM's first task will be to form his cabinet team.
Sunak is reshuffling his cabinet after many of Truss's ministers resigned or were sacked. He is also rewarding his own loyalists with Cabinet positions.
Who's in:
Jeremy Hunt, who was given the position of Chancellor of the Exchequer under the former PM Liz Truss to save the economy, will remain in the job, according to Sky News. The controversial mini-budget to cut taxes as part of Truss’s plan to encourage growth in the British economy ended up having the precise opposite effect: The budget instead led to the pound crashing and the government making embarrassing u-turns.
Sunak loyalist Dominic Raab has been appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, reports the BBC. During the first Tory leadership contest which Truss won and Suna lost, Raab was among the few Sunak-backers who carried on talking him up even when Truss’ victory was all but certain. He is being rewarded for his loyalty.
Suella Braverman has been reappointed home secretary, a week after resigning from the same role, and Grant Shapps has replaced Jacob Rees-Mogg as business secretary. She was appointed home secretary, one of the top jobs in government, in September when Liz Truss became the new prime minister. But she resigned last Wednesday over a "mistake".
In her resignation letter she said she had sent an official document from her personal email address, and breaking the ministerial code.
She also criticised Truss saying her government had "broken key pledges that were promised to voters".
Sunak's former leadership rival Penny Mordaunt will remain leader of the House of Commons, and has not been offered a Cabinet role. She will also assume the role of Lord President of the Council again, as the presiding officer of the Privy Council.
Mel Stride has been given the role as secretary for the department for work and pensions.
Gillian Keegan has been appointed secretary of state for education.
James Cleverly and Ben Wallace have both retained their roles as foreign secretary and defence secretary.
The new Tory chief whip in the House of Commons will be Simon Hart.
Nadhim Zahawi has been appointed as the minister without portfolio and party chairman.
Who's out:
Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, an ardent Boris Johnson loyalist and opponent of Sunak's was the first to step down.
After that, Brandon Lewis announced that he would be quitting as Justice Secretary.
Wendy Morton tweeted that she had resigned her role as chief whip of the Tory party.
Tory Party chairman Jake Berry has also been shown the door.
Sir Robert Buckland has said he will be leaving the role of Wales Secretary.
PM Sunak is set to appoint the fifth education secretary since July, as Kit Malthouse has quit.
Levelling Up Secretary Simon Clarke - who served in the Treasury when Sunak was Chancellor - has also been shown the door.
Ranil Jayawardena tweeted a resignation letter, quitting his role as Environment Secretary.
Junior ministers Vicky Ford and Chloe Smith are also leaving cabinet.
Finally, Alok Sharma remains a Cop26 president, but it is no longer in a ministerial role.
