Greening resigns from government
JUSTINE Greening has quit the government after refusing to take the work and pensions post after being moved from the education portfolio, Downing Street sources said.
The move is the biggest upset of a reshuffle which saw Prime Minister Theresa May keep all the political big beasts in her Cabinet in place.
No 10 sources said Mrs May is “disappointed” but respects Ms Greening’s decision to leave the government.
Ms Greening was succeeded as education secretary by Damian Hinds who was promoted from being a junior work and pensions minister.
The way Ms Greening 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.
Ms Greening had made it clear she wanted to stay in the education post in the run-up to the reshuffle amid a raft of reports that the PM was determined to move her.
Tatton MP Esther McVey has been made secretary of state for work and pensions.
Mrs May’s reshuffle was forced by the resignation of Damian Green after he admitted lying over pornography on his office computer.
Former justice secretary David Lidington was appointed to Mr Green’s old position of Minister for the Cabinet Office, but did not inherit the title of first secretary of state which marked Mrs May’s long-time friend and ally as her effective deputy.
But he will fill in for Mrs May at Prime Minister’s Questions and take on some of the responsibilities for chairing influential Cabinet committees.
It is understood that Mrs May does not intend to appoint a first secretary of state in what was expected to be her biggest reshuffle since taking office in 2016. Downing Street confirmed Chancellor Philip Hammond, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Amber Rudd and Brexit Secretary David Davis are all keeping their current jobs.
Jeremy Hunt retains responsibility for health, but has had social care added to his Cabinet title in a sign that the issue will be taken seriously at the highest level of government.
Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire resigned from the Cabinet on grounds of ill health, weeks before major surgery for a lesion on his right lung. Former culture secretary Karen Bradley has taken over Mr Brokenshire’s role.
Digital minister Matt Hancock takes over from his old boss as culture secretary.
Brandon Lewis has been named the new party chairman, amid farcical scenes which saw the Tories’ official Twitter account incorrectly announce that the job had gone to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove, International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, Mr Grayling and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox all remain in the same jobs.