Theresa May has reshuffled some of her Cabinet after the sacking of key ally Damian Green – but political opponents said the limited changes exposed the prime minister’s weakness.
David Lidington takes over at the Cabinet Office after Mr Green was forced out for lying over claims there was pornography on his office computer.
But the former justice secretary – who inherits responsibilities including talks with Scotland over the implications of Brexit – will not get the de facto deputy prime minister title Mr Green enjoyed.
Mr Green was the third Cabinet minister to go in less than two months, following former Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and former International Development Secretary Priti Patel in November. But reshuffling the crumbling Cabinet appeared to be trickier than expected for the PM as many of the top jobs remained the same, despite half a dozen demotions being expected.
The biggest upset saw Justine Greening quit the government altogether rather than accept a switch from education to work and pensions – a job given instead to Esther McVey.
Ms Greening was succeeded as education secretary by Damian Hinds.
The way she left the government could cause a headache for the PM when the Putney MP, who backed Remain in the referendum campaign, returns to the back benches.
Meanwhile under-pressure Jeremy Hunt not only held on to the health brief but had social care added to it, after apparently rejecting a move to business in lengthy talks in Number 10.
Former Conservative Party chairman Patrick McLoughlin, who presided over the disastrous snap election campaign, was replaced by Brandon Lewis.
Those who have held on to their jobs include the three Brexiteers –Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Trade Secretary Liam Fox and Brexit Secretary David Davis – as well as Chancellor Philip Hammond, Home Secretary Amber Rudd and Rural Affairs Secretary Michael Gove.
Orkney and Shetland Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael said: “She wanted to reassert her authority but has come out of this looking weaker than ever.”
The SNP’s Stephen Gethins said: “Brexit hardliners hold the power in the government and cannot be moved.”
