May replaces axed Patel with hardline Brexiteer

THERESA May has maintained the delicate Cabinet balance between Leavers and Remainers as she replaced Priti Patel with another hardline Brexiteer.

Penny Mordaunt, the minister for disabled people, was promoted to become the new International Development Secretary following Ms Patel’s dramatic resignation on Wednesday.

In her second emergency mini-reshuffle in the space of a week, the Prime Minister took the opportunity to promote two other women MPs.

Victoria Atkins became the first of the 2015 intake of new Conservative MPs to enter the Government, becoming a junior Home Office minister.

She replaced Sarah Newton who moves to take over Ms Mordaunt’s responsibilities at the Department for Work and Pensions.

Downing Street will hope the appointments restore some stability after recent weeks saw Sir Michael Fallon forced to resign over allegations of improper conduct.

The choice of Ms Mordaunt (left) as International Development Secretary will be seen a signal to reassure hardline Brexiteers.

Like Ms Patel — who was forced to quit over her unauthorised contacts with senior Israelis — she was a high-profile campaigner for Leave.

Ms Patel underlined her pro-Brexit credentials by backing Andrea Leadsom in the subsequent Conservative leadership contest.

Following the announcement, Ms Patel tweeted her support for her successor, congratulating her “dear friend”.

Opposition parties, however, questioned Ms Mordaunt’s commitment to the international aid agenda and urged her to distance herself from the legacy of her predecessor.