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| Cabinet mini-reshuffle under way as Johnson keeps Nicky Morgan as culture secretary – as it happened | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Simon Hart named new Welsh secretary as prime minister announces that Morgan – who stood down as MP – will get life peerage | Simon Hart named new Welsh secretary as prime minister announces that Morgan – who stood down as MP – will get life peerage |
| That’s it from us this evening. Thanks for reading and commenting. Here’s a summary of the day’s events: | That’s it from us this evening. Thanks for reading and commenting. Here’s a summary of the day’s events: |
| Nicky Morgan was reappointed culture secretary, despite having retired from the Commons. Morgan had said she wanted to spend more time with her family when she stepped down prior to the election. Reports suggested her return to cabinet would be an interim measure ahead of a larger reshuffle early next year. | Nicky Morgan was reappointed culture secretary, despite having retired from the Commons. Morgan had said she wanted to spend more time with her family when she stepped down prior to the election. Reports suggested her return to cabinet would be an interim measure ahead of a larger reshuffle early next year. |
| Angela Rayner is likely to seek the deputy leadership of the Labour party, numerous sources suggested. The shadow education secretary is expected to give Rebecca Long-Bailey a clear run as the left-wing leadership candidate. | Angela Rayner is likely to seek the deputy leadership of the Labour party, numerous sources suggested. The shadow education secretary is expected to give Rebecca Long-Bailey a clear run as the left-wing leadership candidate. |
| The government must not try to bully the BBC into submission, the broadcaster’s former boss said. Lord Grade, the former BBC chairman, made the comments on Radio 4’s World at One programme after it emerged that the government was considering decriminalising non-payment of the licence fee. Andy McDonald, the shadow transport secretary, also said the BBC was partly to blame for Labour’s defeat at the election. | The government must not try to bully the BBC into submission, the broadcaster’s former boss said. Lord Grade, the former BBC chairman, made the comments on Radio 4’s World at One programme after it emerged that the government was considering decriminalising non-payment of the licence fee. Andy McDonald, the shadow transport secretary, also said the BBC was partly to blame for Labour’s defeat at the election. |
| Arlene Foster said she hopes the Northern Ireland assembly will be up and running early next year. The DUP leader accepted the election had created a “momentum” towards breaking the deadlock. | Arlene Foster said she hopes the Northern Ireland assembly will be up and running early next year. The DUP leader accepted the election had created a “momentum” towards breaking the deadlock. |
| The shadow foreign secretary threatened to sue a former parliamentary colleague for saying she once described leave voters as “stupid”. Emily Thornberry said she was involving lawyers because Caroline Flint had refused to retract her comments. | The shadow foreign secretary threatened to sue a former parliamentary colleague for saying she once described leave voters as “stupid”. Emily Thornberry said she was involving lawyers because Caroline Flint had refused to retract her comments. |
| Downing Street held the first lobby briefing since the election. You can see a detailed summary of that here. | Downing Street held the first lobby briefing since the election. You can see a detailed summary of that here. |
| MPs have been arriving at Westminster following last week’s general election that brought a decisive Tory victory. The prime minister, Boris Johnson, addressed the new intake and undertook a mini-reshuffle of his cabinet. | MPs have been arriving at Westminster following last week’s general election that brought a decisive Tory victory. The prime minister, Boris Johnson, addressed the new intake and undertook a mini-reshuffle of his cabinet. |
| If you’d like to read yet more, my colleagues Heather Stewart and Rowena Mason have tonight’s main politics story: | If you’d like to read yet more, my colleagues Heather Stewart and Rowena Mason have tonight’s main politics story: |
| Boris Johnson will attempt to mark his election promise to “get Brexit done” by writing into law that the UK will leave the EU in 2020 and will not extend the transition period, Kate Proctor, Peter Walker and Daniel Boffey report. | Boris Johnson will attempt to mark his election promise to “get Brexit done” by writing into law that the UK will leave the EU in 2020 and will not extend the transition period, Kate Proctor, Peter Walker and Daniel Boffey report. |
| As MPs begin to be sworn in at Westminster on Tuesday, the prime minister’s team is working on amending the withdrawal agreement bill so that the transition, also known as the implementation period, must end on 31 December 2020 and there will be no request to the EU for a further extension. A Downing Street source said: | As MPs begin to be sworn in at Westminster on Tuesday, the prime minister’s team is working on amending the withdrawal agreement bill so that the transition, also known as the implementation period, must end on 31 December 2020 and there will be no request to the EU for a further extension. A Downing Street source said: |
| Here’s a host more middle and junior-ranking ministerial appointments just announced by No 10: | Here’s a host more middle and junior-ranking ministerial appointments just announced by No 10: |
| Anne-Marie Trevelyan is promoted to minister of state at the Ministry of Defence in place of Mark Lancaster. Her former role is taken by James Heappey, who becomes a parliamentary under secretary of state at the MoD. | Anne-Marie Trevelyan is promoted to minister of state at the Ministry of Defence in place of Mark Lancaster. Her former role is taken by James Heappey, who becomes a parliamentary under secretary of state at the MoD. |
| Jeremy Quin moves from his role as a government whip to become a parliamentary secretary at the Cabinet Office. | Jeremy Quin moves from his role as a government whip to become a parliamentary secretary at the Cabinet Office. |
| David TC Davies becomes a parliamentary under secretary of state at the Wales Office and an assistant government whip. He will only be paid for the latter role. | David TC Davies becomes a parliamentary under secretary of state at the Wales Office and an assistant government whip. He will only be paid for the latter role. |
| Kevin Foster is appointed a parliamentary under secretary of state at the Home Office, replacing Seema Kennedy. | Kevin Foster is appointed a parliamentary under secretary of state at the Home Office, replacing Seema Kennedy. |
| Robin Walker will move from being a joint parliamentary under secretary of state at the Scotland and Northern Ireland offices, to fulfilling the role solely at the latter. | Robin Walker will move from being a joint parliamentary under secretary of state at the Scotland and Northern Ireland offices, to fulfilling the role solely at the latter. |
| And Downing street has announced that the following have been removed from their government roles: | And Downing street has announced that the following have been removed from their government roles: |
| Nick Hurd, who was previously a minister of state at the Northern Ireland office. | Nick Hurd, who was previously a minister of state at the Northern Ireland office. |
| Colin Clark, who was previously a parliamentary under Secretary of State at the Scotland office and a government whip. | Colin Clark, who was previously a parliamentary under Secretary of State at the Scotland office and a government whip. |
| A mooted plan to merge the department for international development (DfID) and the foreign office (FCO) risks allowing British aid money to be spent on “UK foreign policy, commercial and political objectives”, rather than on helping the world’s poorest people, more than 100 charities warn. | A mooted plan to merge the department for international development (DfID) and the foreign office (FCO) risks allowing British aid money to be spent on “UK foreign policy, commercial and political objectives”, rather than on helping the world’s poorest people, more than 100 charities warn. |
| They cited an Independent Commission for Aid Impact report (pdf) that found responsibility for the UK aid budget was increasingly being spread around Whitehall, with departments spending more and more in “large middle-income countries”. | They cited an Independent Commission for Aid Impact report (pdf) that found responsibility for the UK aid budget was increasingly being spread around Whitehall, with departments spending more and more in “large middle-income countries”. |
| The charities, which include the British Red Cross, Ocfam GB and Unicef UK, said: | The charities, which include the British Red Cross, Ocfam GB and Unicef UK, said: |
| Boris Johnson has briefly addressed the new Conservative MPs at Westminster, telling them they were “here to get things done”. Flick Drummond, the new MP for Meon Valley, said he was “very inspiring”. | Boris Johnson has briefly addressed the new Conservative MPs at Westminster, telling them they were “here to get things done”. Flick Drummond, the new MP for Meon Valley, said he was “very inspiring”. |
| Caroline Ansell, the MP for Eastbourne, said: | Caroline Ansell, the MP for Eastbourne, said: |
| Paul Howell, who took Tony Blair’s old Sedgefield seat, said: | Paul Howell, who took Tony Blair’s old Sedgefield seat, said: |
| Morgan has joked that leaving the cabinet is more difficult than leaving the EU after it was announced she would be made a life peer to allow her to carry on as culture secretary, despite having stood down as an MP. | Morgan has joked that leaving the cabinet is more difficult than leaving the EU after it was announced she would be made a life peer to allow her to carry on as culture secretary, despite having stood down as an MP. |
| The Labour MP, Jo Stevens, offers this criticism: | The Labour MP, Jo Stevens, offers this criticism: |
| Senior Scottish National party and Lib Dem figures are equally scathing of Johnson’s decision to reappoint Morgan. | Senior Scottish National party and Lib Dem figures are equally scathing of Johnson’s decision to reappoint Morgan. |
| Layla Moran is the Lib Dems’ culture spokeswoman: | Layla Moran is the Lib Dems’ culture spokeswoman: |
| Labour’s Chris Bryant, a former shadow culture secretary, is somewhat unimpressed by Morgan’s reappointment. | 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: | 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: | 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. | 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 re-election. 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”. | 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 re-election. 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. | 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 said 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 said 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”. |