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Gavin Williamson out as education secretary as cabinet reshuffle begins – UK politics live | Gavin Williamson out as education secretary as cabinet reshuffle begins – UK politics live |
(32 minutes later) | |
Latest updates: education secretary followed out of cabinet by justice secretary Robert Buckland and housing secretary Robert Jenrick | |
Why was Robert Jenrick forced out? His sacking was probably more in the Gavin Williamson mode than the Robert Buckland mode. (See 2.26pm.) Although loyal to Boris Johnson, and said to be well regarded by his wife Carrie, Jenrick has been associated with a series of gaffes or scandals, and was seen as lucky to keep his job after intervening in a planning decision to help the billionaire Tory donor Richard Desmond. Jenrick’s move was subsequently ruled unlawful. | |
Jenrick is also in charge of the planning bill. But his initial plans to create a presumption in favour of development in some areas have horrified green belt Tories, and a rethink is now underway. | |
Robert Jenrick has been sacked from his post as housing, communities and local government secretary. | |
From the Sun’s Harry Cole | |
Two cabinet ministers have been sacked now, but the circumstances of their departure are very different. | |
Gavin Williamson was widely expected to go as education secretary because his performance in the post was seen as seen as poor, and at time disastrous. He has regularly come bottom, by a long way, in the ConservativeHome survey of how party members rank the performance of cabinet ministers. Here are the latest ratings. | |
According to Sky, Williamson was offered an alternative post by Boris Johnson, but refused to take a demotion. | |
Robert Buckland is different. In a cabinet not seen as one of history’s ablest or most impressive, he was regarded as a solid performer, and Conservative party members were relatively pleased with his performance. | |
But Buckland’s problem may have been that he was dispensable. He voted remain, and unlike other cabinet remainers, has never pretended to go through an ideological conversion to the Vote Leave cause. Although liked by colleagues, he does not have supporters likely to cause trouble if he leaves the government. And, unlike some in government, he did not seem keen on waging war on the judiciary. The Conservative manifesto proposed limiting the scope of judicial review, as part of an attack on what Tories describe as “judicial activism”, but Buckland, a QC himself, only seemed to have limited enthusiasm for this. He appointed an independent commission to consider the issue, but it ended up proposing just limited reforms. | |
Buckland may also have been a bed-blocker, because there is speculation that Johnson wanted him out so he could offer his job to Dominic Raab. | |
Robert Buckland confirms he has been sacked from his post as justice secretary. | Robert Buckland confirms he has been sacked from his post as justice secretary. |
His tweet makes it clear that he is definitely leaving the government. | His tweet makes it clear that he is definitely leaving the government. |
These are from Branwen Jeffreys, the BBC’s education editor, on Gavin Williamson. | These are from Branwen Jeffreys, the BBC’s education editor, on Gavin Williamson. |
Boris Johnson is now back at No 10, according to Steve Back, who tweets as @PoliticalPics. | Boris Johnson is now back at No 10, according to Steve Back, who tweets as @PoliticalPics. |
Robert Buckland is being moved from his post as justice secretary, Sky suggests. | Robert Buckland is being moved from his post as justice secretary, Sky suggests. |
From ITV’s Robert Peston | From ITV’s Robert Peston |
Gavin Williamson has confirmed he is no longer education secretary. | Gavin Williamson has confirmed he is no longer education secretary. |
The line in the second tweet about “continuing to support the prime minister and the government” implies that Williamson is returning to the backbenches, but he has not said that explicitly. Williamson expected to be moved, but reportedly was angling for another job, such as leader of the Commons, or Northern Ireland secretary. | The line in the second tweet about “continuing to support the prime minister and the government” implies that Williamson is returning to the backbenches, but he has not said that explicitly. Williamson expected to be moved, but reportedly was angling for another job, such as leader of the Commons, or Northern Ireland secretary. |
The current co-party chair is Amanda Milling, and she has been seen not far from the PM’s office in the Commons, the Times’ Eleni Courea. Milling has been tipped for a move. | The current co-party chair is Amanda Milling, and she has been seen not far from the PM’s office in the Commons, the Times’ Eleni Courea. Milling has been tipped for a move. |
Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccine deployment minister, has arrived in the Commons, the Sun’s Harry Cole reports. Zahawi is tipped for promotion - possibly to Conservative party chair. | Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccine deployment minister, has arrived in the Commons, the Sun’s Harry Cole reports. Zahawi is tipped for promotion - possibly to Conservative party chair. |
Here is more on what might be happening to Dominic Raab. | Here is more on what might be happening to Dominic Raab. |