UPDATE: UK PM Johnson appoints Liz Truss as new foreign secretary

(Alliance News) - Liz Truss has been appointed Foreign Secretary as UK Prime Minister Boris ...

Alliance News 15 September, 2021 | 3:23PM
Email Form Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS

(Alliance News) - Liz Truss has been appointed Foreign Secretary as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson carries out a dramatic reshaping of his top team.

Johnson demoted Dominic Raab, who has been widely criticised for his handling of the Afghanistan crisis, moving him from the Foreign Office to the Ministry of Justice but also handing him the title Deputy Prime Minister.

Truss takes over at the Foreign Office and, with Priti Patel remaining at the Home Office, two of the great offices of state are now held by women.

While Raab retains his seat at the Cabinet table, the prime minister sacked Gavin Williamson, Robert Jenrick and Robert Buckland.

Tory party co-chair Amanda Milling was also ousted, just weeks before the Conservative conference.

Raab's demotion comes after he was heavily criticised for being on holiday as the Taliban swept across Afghanistan.

The title Deputy Prime Minister formalises a role he performed as first secretary of state when he stood in for Johnson while the prime minister was in hospital with coronavirus.

Raab accepted the new role following lengthy talks with Johnson in the prime minister's Commons office.

Downing Street confirmed Williamson had been sacked by the prime minister on Wednesday afternoon, with the same fate greeting Buckland as justice secretary and Jenrick from housing.

The prime minister was carrying out a long-awaited shake-up of his top team with plans to put in place a "strong and united" Cabinet following the turbulence of the coronavirus pandemic.

Williamson was one of the ministers deemed most at risk of being told to return to the backbenches, particularly due to his handling of the exams fiasco during the Covid-19 crisis.

He announced his exit by saying "it has been a privilege to serve as education secretary since 2019", adding that he will continue to support the prime minister and the government.

After receiving the axe, Jenrick pledged to continue supporting the prime minister "in every way I can".

"I'm deeply proud of all we achieved," he said, thanking his colleagues at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

His sacking from Johnson's top team followed controversies including the unlawful approval of a Tory donor's housing development and his eyebrow-raising journeys during lockdown.

Also to go was Buckland, who said it had been an "honour" to serve in the government for the last seven years, including the last two as justice secretary and lord chancellor.

"I am deeply proud of everything I have achieved. On to the next adventure," he said.

The courts system has been under huge strain during the pandemic but a specific reason for his departure was unclear.

Bob Neill, the Conservative MP who chairs the Commons Justice Committee, criticised Buckland's exit, saying: "You deserved better."

"You did a first-rate job and, importantly, always stood up for the rule of law and the integrity of the justice system," Neill added.

By David Hughes and Sam Blewett, PA Political Staff

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Email Form Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS

About Author

Alliance News

Alliance News provides Morningstar with continuously updating coverage of news affecting listed companies.

© Copyright 2024 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Terms of Use        Privacy Policy        Modern Slavery Statement        Cookie Settings        Disclosures