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Cabinet mini-reshuffle under way as Johnson reappoints Nicky Morgan as culture secretary – live news Cabinet mini-reshuffle under way as Johnson keeps Nicky Morgan as culture secretary – live news
(32 minutes later)
Simon Hart named new Welsh secretary as prime minister announces that Morgan – who stood down as MP – will get life peerageSimon Hart named new Welsh secretary as prime minister announces that Morgan – who stood down as MP – will get life peerage
Senior Scottish National party figures are equally scathing of Johnson’s decision to reappoint Morgan.
Labour’s Chris Bryant, a former shadow culture secretary, is somewhat unimpressed by Morgan’s reappointment.
However, as the Telegraph’s Asa Bennett points out, making someone a peer in order for them to serve in the cabinet is by no means unprecedented:
It also appears that Morgan may not be intending to stick around for long:
Here’s the letter Morgan wrote to her local party chair when she decided not to stand for election.
In the letter, dated 30 October, she cited the impact serving in the Commons was having on her family life and the abuse MPs receive as reasons not to seek reelection. Morgan said she “couldn’t commit to another five-year term” and that “now is the time for me to stand aside and be at home far more”.
Now, she will serve as culture secretary as a life peer.
Nicky Morgan has been confirmed as the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport, despite having stood down from the Commons at last week’s election. A No 10 spokesman has said:Nicky Morgan has been confirmed as the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport, despite having stood down from the Commons at last week’s election. A No 10 spokesman has said:
The Irish foreign affairs minister, Simon Coveney, has held talks with the Northern Ireland secretary, Julian Smith, at Stormont.The Irish foreign affairs minister, Simon Coveney, has held talks with the Northern Ireland secretary, Julian Smith, at Stormont.
He is meeting political leaders in Belfast over the next 24 hours before an all-party round table on Wednesday, when he hoped they could agree a plan to restore devolution and co-operation between the Republic and Northern Ireland. Coveney said:He is meeting political leaders in Belfast over the next 24 hours before an all-party round table on Wednesday, when he hoped they could agree a plan to restore devolution and co-operation between the Republic and Northern Ireland. Coveney said:
Coveney said Wednesday’s planned strike action by nurses represented a “reality check” for politicians.Coveney said Wednesday’s planned strike action by nurses represented a “reality check” for politicians.
Hart supported Johnson’s bid to be Tory leader in the summer, saying the party needed a “bolder choice, not without its risks, but the sort of choice which really engages people in the debate about the country… [in a way that is] eye-catching, visible and audible”.Hart supported Johnson’s bid to be Tory leader in the summer, saying the party needed a “bolder choice, not without its risks, but the sort of choice which really engages people in the debate about the country… [in a way that is] eye-catching, visible and audible”.
On Brexit, Hart supported remain in 2016 and was one of the co-leaders of the Brexit Delivery Group of MPs who backed Theresa May’s deal over a no-deal Brexit and who were seen by many in the Tory party as moderates.On Brexit, Hart supported remain in 2016 and was one of the co-leaders of the Brexit Delivery Group of MPs who backed Theresa May’s deal over a no-deal Brexit and who were seen by many in the Tory party as moderates.
Speaking during the party leadership campaign, he said:Speaking during the party leadership campaign, he said:
In February, Hart said the Tory party had staked its reputation on being able to deliver a Brexit deal.In February, Hart said the Tory party had staked its reputation on being able to deliver a Brexit deal.
Before entering the Commons, Hart served as the chief executive and chairman of the Countryside Alliance and campaigned against the hunting ban introduced by the Labour government.Before entering the Commons, Hart served as the chief executive and chairman of the Countryside Alliance and campaigned against the hunting ban introduced by the Labour government.
Simon Hart, who previously served as a parliamentary secretary at the Cabinet Office, is the new secretary of state for Wales, Downing Street announces.Simon Hart, who previously served as a parliamentary secretary at the Cabinet Office, is the new secretary of state for Wales, Downing Street announces.
Hart is the MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire and he replaces Alun Cairns in the ministerial role.Hart is the MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire and he replaces Alun Cairns in the ministerial role.
Here are three contributions to the debate about what Labour should learn from its election defeat from prominent commentators on the left.Here are three contributions to the debate about what Labour should learn from its election defeat from prominent commentators on the left.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, head of the New Economics Foundation thinktank, says in an article for the Guardian that Labour should not ditch its entire policy programme.Miatta Fahnbulleh, head of the New Economics Foundation thinktank, says in an article for the Guardian that Labour should not ditch its entire policy programme.
Tom Kibasi, a commentator and thinktank boss, says in an article for the Guardian that Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership was a problem.Tom Kibasi, a commentator and thinktank boss, says in an article for the Guardian that Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership was a problem.
And Paul Mason has posted his thoughts on the defeat in a Twitter thread. It starts here.And Paul Mason has posted his thoughts on the defeat in a Twitter thread. It starts here.
And here are his two final posts, the last of which includes a link to his 22-page pamphlet setting out his argument in more detail.And here are his two final posts, the last of which includes a link to his 22-page pamphlet setting out his argument in more detail.
That’s all from me for today.That’s all from me for today.
My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over.My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over.
The Press Association photographer Yoi Mok has some more pictures from Frank Dobson’s funeral.The Press Association photographer Yoi Mok has some more pictures from Frank Dobson’s funeral.
I’ve now been told by three Labour MPs, and a couple of other party sources, that they expect Angela Rayner to run for the deputy leadership – though had no confirmation yet from Rayner’s camp.I’ve now been told by three Labour MPs, and a couple of other party sources, that they expect Angela Rayner to run for the deputy leadership – though had no confirmation yet from Rayner’s camp.
The shadow education secretary had been widely regarded as a strong possible contender for the leadership, but has apparently decided to give her old friend and flatmate Rebecca Long-Bailey a clear run as the leftwing candidate – a gesture one colleague said was “sisterly”.The shadow education secretary had been widely regarded as a strong possible contender for the leadership, but has apparently decided to give her old friend and flatmate Rebecca Long-Bailey a clear run as the leftwing candidate – a gesture one colleague said was “sisterly”.
Laura Pidcock, another leftwing favourite, lost her North West Durham seat to the Conservatives last week.Laura Pidcock, another leftwing favourite, lost her North West Durham seat to the Conservatives last week.
Tim Farron has told the BBC that he won’t be standing for the Liberal Democrat leadership. He held the post between 2015 and 2017, but told the BBC that if he were asked to do it again, the answer would be a “definite, definite no”.Tim Farron has told the BBC that he won’t be standing for the Liberal Democrat leadership. He held the post between 2015 and 2017, but told the BBC that if he were asked to do it again, the answer would be a “definite, definite no”.
And this is from Fay Jones, the new Conservative MP for Brecon and Radnorshire. Jones is on the left. She is beside Virginia Crosbie (centre), the new Conservative MP for Ynys Môn, and Sarah Atherton, the new Conservative MP for Wrexham.
They are the first women to be elected as Conservative MPs in Wales.
From Olivia Blake, the new Labour MP for Sheffield Hallam
From the Times’ Matt Chorley
The Electoral Reform Society, which campaigns for a fairer voting system, has released figures saying 14.5 million voters are effectively “unrepresented” because they voted for a candidate who did not win. It says:
Ian Lavery, the Labour party chair, says he has suffered abuse and harassment because he argued the party had to accept the result of the Brexit referendum.
And the Lib Dems have also been posing for a team photograph - which, given the numbers, was probably a bit easier to coordinate.
Here is the new cohort of SNP MPs.
Labour’s defeat is ‘big opportunity’ to move to centre ground, says Andrew Adonis
An old joke in the Labour party is that, after every election defeat, the party promptly forms a circular firing squad. Labour figures never actually end up shooting at each other although, as my colleague Rowena Mason reports, today they are threatening to sue each other - or at least one of them is.
To add to the spirit of comradeliness, the Labour MP Stephen Kinnock (who represents leave-voting Aberavon and who was urging the party to back a soft Brexit, not remain) told the BBC’s Politics Live earlier that those in the party who backed a second referendum should apologise to pro-leave Labour supporters. And the party should choose a new leader who did not argue for a second referendum, he said. He explained:
But Andrew Adonis, the former transport secretary, Labour peer and passionate remain campaigner, told BBC News this afternoon that he thought it was not all over for the remain campaign. He said that, although the UK would now leave the EU next year, the remain cause was not “gone for all time” and that at some point in the future a party might campaign to rejoin the EU.
He said Labour should view its defeat as a “big opportunity” to elect a better leader.
Asked to say who the new leader should be, Adonis said he had not firmly decided, but he said that he had “always been hugely impressed by Keir Starmer” (the shadow Brexit secretary, who won’t get Kinnock’s vote because he backed a second referendum) and that Starmer was fit to be prime minister.
From my colleague Heather Stewart