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Boris Johnson gets rid of Gavin Williamson as education secretary | Boris Johnson gets rid of Gavin Williamson as education secretary |
(32 minutes later) | |
Gavin Williamson has been under fire over his handling of the pandemic | Gavin Williamson has been under fire over his handling of the pandemic |
Gavin Williamson is out as education secretary as the prime minister begins a reshuffle of his top team. | Gavin Williamson is out as education secretary as the prime minister begins a reshuffle of his top team. |
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland has also lost his job, he confirmed in a twitter message. | |
Boris Johnson is sacking ministers in his House of Commons office and is expected to start announcing replacements for them later. | |
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is among those rumoured to be moved or sacked. | |
Mr Williamson faced intense criticism over his handling of disruption to schools and exams during the pandemic. | |
Follow live: Johnson reshuffles cabinet | Follow live: Johnson reshuffles cabinet |
Mr Williamson confirmed he had left the role in a tweet, saying: "It has been a privilege to serve as education secretary since 2019. | |
"Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, I'm particularly proud of the transformational reforms I've led in Post 16 education: in further education colleges, our Skills agenda, apprenticeships and more." | |
Mr Buckland, the UK's most senior law officer, also confirmed his departure in a twitter message. | |
He said: "It has been an honour to serve in government for the last 7 years, and as the Lord Chancellor for the last 2. | |
"I am deeply proud of everything I have achieved. On to the next adventure." | |
Downing Street earlier confirmed the reshuffle was under way, saying the PM wanted to "put in place a strong and united team to build back better from the pandemic". | |
"The government must also redouble our efforts to deliver on the people's priorities," No 10 added. | |
"The PM will be appointing ministers this afternoon with a focus on uniting and levelling up the whole country." | "The PM will be appointing ministers this afternoon with a focus on uniting and levelling up the whole country." |
Widespread rejig? | Widespread rejig? |
Confirmation of the reshuffle came as Mr Johnson was on his feet in the Commons taking Prime Minister's Questions. | Confirmation of the reshuffle came as Mr Johnson was on his feet in the Commons taking Prime Minister's Questions. |
The government front bench could look different by the end of Wednesday | The government front bench could look different by the end of Wednesday |
He remained in the Commons after PMQs, where he is able to sack ministers in his private office, away from the cameras in Downing Street. | |
Mr Johnson has largely stuck with the cabinet team he appointed after winning the December 2019 general election. | Mr Johnson has largely stuck with the cabinet team he appointed after winning the December 2019 general election. |
The one major change came in February 2020, when Rishi Sunak became chancellor following the resignation of Sajid Javid. | The one major change came in February 2020, when Rishi Sunak became chancellor following the resignation of Sajid Javid. |
Mr Javid returned to government in July this year as health secretary, following the resignation of Matt Hancock. | Mr Javid returned to government in July this year as health secretary, following the resignation of Matt Hancock. |
Speculation has been building for weeks that the PM is planning a more widespread rejig of his ministerial team. | Speculation has been building for weeks that the PM is planning a more widespread rejig of his ministerial team. |
Dominic Raab, who came under fire over his handling of the aftermath of the fall of Afghanistan, has also been at the centre of speculation about his future. | Dominic Raab, who came under fire over his handling of the aftermath of the fall of Afghanistan, has also been at the centre of speculation about his future. |
Home Secretary Priti Patel has also faced negative headlines over allegedly breaking ministerial rules, a police pay freeze and bullying allegations. | Home Secretary Priti Patel has also faced negative headlines over allegedly breaking ministerial rules, a police pay freeze and bullying allegations. |
But Ms Patel was in a prominent position on the government frontbench at Prime Minister's Questions, sat next to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, with Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg to the right of the PM. | But Ms Patel was in a prominent position on the government frontbench at Prime Minister's Questions, sat next to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, with Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg to the right of the PM. |
Other big Cabinet hitters could not be seen in the chamber, including Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, who has been tipped for promotion to a more senior role. | Other big Cabinet hitters could not be seen in the chamber, including Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, who has been tipped for promotion to a more senior role. |