Theresa May finds herself a cheerleader in reshuffle

Ashford MP Damian Green has been appointed First Secretary of State in a cabinet reshuffle – a job which makes him second in command to the Prime Minister.

Before last Thursday’s election Mr Green had been the work and pensions minister and was one of Mrs May’s chief cheerleaders during the campaign.

He was re-elected as the MP for Ashford with a majority of 17,478 and his promotion will be seen as a reward for his loyalty.

Effectively, the title equates to being the deputy Prime Minister and could see Mr Green stand in for Mrs May at Prime Minister’s Questions.

The MP said: “I’m delighted to be given such a challenge at this very important time.”

He was at university with Mrs May and has remained close friends with her since.

Politically, his promotion is seen as significant because he has never made any secret that he is on the pro-European wing of the party and was a staunch remainer in the EU referen- dum. Before entering politics, he was a journalist for Channel 4 and is comfortable in front of the cameras.

During the campaign, he was involved in the damaging row about the Conservatives’ plan for an adult care cap and insisted that despite the row over what opponents dubbed the dementia tax, there was to be no review.

However, less than 24 hours later he was contradicted as the party performed an abrupt U-turn.

He has also become minister for the Cabinet Office.

The reshuffle comes after the general election left the Conservatives as the largest party but without a majority.

The First Secretary of State is a role previously held by George Osborne and, under Labour, Peter Mandelson.