Westminster on high alert for Boris Johnson to reshuffle his top team
Boris wields the axe: PM confirms he WILL reshuffle his top team TODAY to forge a ‘strong and united team’ for the recovery from Covid – with Gavin Williamson and Dominic Raab among those tipped for moves
Rumours swirling that Boris Johnson will launch a reshuffle as soon as todayTories believe he will start the long-anticipated overhaul of his team after PMQsGavin Williamson and Dominic Raab are among the ministers tipped for moves
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Rumours have been swirling that Boris Johnson (pictured today) will wield the knife before Tory conference
Boris Johnson has dramatically confirmed he will reshuffle his top team today – with speculation over several high-profile victims.
Rumours have been swirling that Mr Johnson will wield the knife before Tory conference, and No10 declared that it will happen after PMQs.
A No10 source said: ‘The PM will today conduct a reshuffle to put in place a strong and united team to Build Back Better from the pandemic.
‘Yesterday the PM set out his plan for managing COVID during the autumn and winter.
‘But the government must also redouble our efforts to deliver on the people’s priorities. The PM will be appointing ministers this afternoon with a focus on uniting and levelling up the whole country.’
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab are among those tipped for moves in the overhaul.
The gossip was heightened by Mr Raab’s absence from the front bench in the Commons during the weekly session, although he does not always attend and allies said he merely ‘has something else on’.
The premier is due to head for New York to attend the UN general assembly next week.
The Labour conference starts soon afterwards – during which there is a long-standing convention that ministers avoid making big announcements.
Cabinet ministers will also need time to prepare speeches for the Conservatives’ own annual gathering in Manchester at the beginning of next month.
A Tory MP who is close to the PM told MailOnline: ‘Sackings after PMQs. Cabinet appointments rest of the afternoon. Other changes tomorrow and Friday.’
One Cabinet source said: ‘We are assuming it is happening today.’ Another added: ‘It looks like today after PMQs.’
Senior No10 figures have fuelled the expectations by ‘going dark’ and failing to respond to messages.
Widespread fear of a reshuffle helped quell a nascent revolt against the brutal £12billion tax rises for the NHS and social care package over the past week.
But it has been unclear whether No10 were merely using the threat as leverage, with Mr Johnson having been telling some MPs in recent weeks that he is unlikely to make any changes until next year.
Mr Johnson holding a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street yesterday, as the government launches its Covid winter plan
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson (right) and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (left) are among those tipped for moves in the overhaul
Mr Johnson has not made large-scale changes to his team since February last year, when he brutally axed a slew of big beasts.
Mr Raab came under heavy fire over his handling of the Afghanistan crisis – when he initially tried to manage the response from a luxury holiday in Crete.
As well as briefing that Mr Raab might be demoted, there has been long-standing sniping at Mr Williamson, regarded by many as having bungled schools and exams during the pandemic.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has also been touted as a possible loser if Mr Johnson does decide to act, although many MPs believe she would be safe.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid only recently replaced Matt Hancock when it emerged he had been having an affair in his office with one of his aides.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak also appears to be fixed in his job, although there were claims recently that Mr Johnson had threatened to put him in the health brief.
Mr Johnson carried out a minor tweak to his team last week as Attorney General Suella Braverman returned from maternity leave.
Michael Ellis, who had been covering for her, was restored to his previous role as solicitor general while Lucy Frazer returned to being justice minister.
Liz Truss, widely-tipped for a reshuffle promotion, topped the most recent popularity poll of the Tory grassroots.
The International Trade Secretary was first in Conservative Home’s latest Cabinet league table, with a net satisfaction score of plus 85.2.
She was more than 10 points clear of Chancellor Rishi Sunak who was in second place with a rating of plus 74.5.
Lord Frost, the Cabinet Office minister, was third with a score of plus 65.5 with Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in fourth with a score of plus 64.2.
Mr Javid was in fifth with a rating of plus 62.2.
The August survey of Conservative Party members saw Mr Williamson receive the worst rating at minus 53.5.
Mr Williamson has been widely-tipped for a reshuffle demotion after a series of gaffes.
Amanda Milling, the chairman of the Conservative Party, is among those subject to gossip about getting the chop. She had the second worst net satisfaction rating with minus 16.6.
Mr Raab, who also serves as Boris Johnson’s First Secretary of State, was third from top in the previous Cabinet league table on plus 73 but he has now sunk to just plus 6.1.
