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Boris Johnson gets rid of Gavin Williamson as education secretary Cabinet reshuffle: Raab moved from foreign secretary to deputy PM
(32 minutes later)
Gavin Williamson has been under fire over his handling of the pandemic Dominic Raab is out as foreign secretary in Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle - but he has been given a new role as deputy PM.
Gavin Williamson is out as education secretary as the PM gets under way with a reshuffle of his top team. He will also replace Robert Buckland as justice secretary.
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland and Housing and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick have also lost their jobs, they confirmed on Twitter. Gavin Williamson has been sacked as education secretary, as Mr Johnson makes sweeping changes to his Cabinet line-up.
Boris Johnson is sacking ministers in his House of Commons office and is expected to start announcing replacements for them later. Housing and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick is another early casualty of the reshuffle.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is among those rumoured to be moved or sacked. Priti Patel will remain as home secretary and Rishi Sunak keeps his job as chancellor.
Mr Williamson faced intense criticism over his handling of disruption to schools and exams during the pandemic.
Follow live: Johnson reshuffles cabinetFollow live: Johnson reshuffles cabinet
Where did it go wrong for Gavin Williamson?Where did it go wrong for Gavin Williamson?
He confirmed he had left the role in a tweet, saying: "It has been a privilege to serve as education secretary since 2019. Who is Dominic Raab?
Mr Raab - who has faced heavy criticism for his handling of the aftermath of the fall of Afghanistan - is understood to have had a long conversation with Mr Johnson before his new roles were announced.
'Deeply proud'
He stood in for Mr Johnson last year when the PM was in hospital with coronavirus and was already seen as the de facto deputy PM, but his new title will formalise it.
Mr Raab's day-to-day job will be as justice secretary and Lord Chancellor - the UK's most senior law officer.
Mr Buckland earlier confirmed his departure in a Twitter message, saying he was "deeply proud of everything I have achieved".
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Dominic Casciani said Mr Buckland was a respected figure in the legal profession, but leaves office with 58,000 serious criminal cases waiting to come to a crown court.
The incoming justice secretary will somehow have to convince the PM and Chancellor to stump up the huge sums of cash that critics say the system needs to reverse cuts in spending that date back to 2010, he added.
Gavin Williamson earlier confirmed his departure 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.""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."
He has faced intense criticism over his handling of disruption to schools and exams during the pandemic.
Labour's shadow education secretary Kate Green said Mr Williamson had "failed children and young people, their parents and our hard working education staff throughout one of the most testing periods in our history".Labour's shadow education secretary Kate Green said Mr Williamson had "failed children and young people, their parents and our hard working education staff throughout one of the most testing periods in our history".
Mr Buckland, the UK's most senior law officer, also confirmed his departure in a Twitter message, saying he was "deeply proud of everything I have achieved".
Mr Jenrick - who has been under pressure over planning law changes - said it had been a "huge privilege" to serve as a minister.Mr Jenrick - who has been under pressure over planning law changes - said it had been a "huge privilege" to serve as a minister.
Downing Street said the aim of the reshuffle was to "put in place a strong and united team to build back better from the pandemic".Downing Street said the aim of the reshuffle was to "put in place a strong and united team to build back better from the pandemic".
Widespread rejigWidespread 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 WednesdayThe 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. He remained in the Commons after PMQs, where he was able to sack ministers in his private office, away from the cameras in Downing Street, but he is now back at No 10.
Mr Johnson has largely stuck with the cabinet team he appointed after winning the December 2019 general election. Up to now, 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 was 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.
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.
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.