Daily Mail

OSBORNE ALLY AMONG THOSE SACKED IN RESHUFFLE

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A CLOSE ally of George Osborne was last night sacked by Theresa May as she continued her post-election reshuffle.

Apprentice­ships minister Robert Halfon was asked to leave his position in the Government by Mrs May.

He revealed she did not tell him why he was sacked, saying: ‘The Prime Minister has to make these decisions, I wasn’t really given a reason.’ He would not be drawn on whether it was because he was close to Mr Osborne, who has savagely attacked Mrs May over her disastrous election campaign. He tweeted: ‘It’s been an honour to have served as Apprentice­ships minister.’

He said he was ‘proud’ to have a record 900,000 apprentice­s.

Mr Halfon formerly served as parliament­ary private secretary to Mr Osborne, who was sacked by Mrs May last year.

The former chancellor has repeatedly twisted the knife since the Tories lost their majority last week. Mr Osborne on Sunday described the PM as a ‘dead woman walking’, warning she could be ousted from No 10 in a matter of days. But Mr Halfon said: ‘I don’t want to get involved in any of that. She appointed me after she became leader last year and it was an honour to do it.’

In 2014 he said the Conservati­ves should stand up for the interests of working people and since the 2015 general election he had enjoyed a meteoric rise in the party ranks – being appointed as deputy chairman of the party and a minister without portfolio.

Sir Oliver Heald was also sacked as a justice minister yesterday. He tweeted: ‘Enjoyed my time as a justice minister... Have been asked to make way for a younger person.’

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