May vows to stay on as she readies for reshuffle

PMsetto revamp her Cabinet and rules out free vote on fox hunting

Theresa May has cleared the decks for a new rear revamp of her Government, scrapping plans to give MPs a free vote on overturning the ban on fox hunting.

The Prime Minister will seek to stamp her authority with a Cabinet reshuffle beginning today amid reports that up to six senior ministers could be axed or moved.

As MPs prepared to head back to Westminster following the Christmas break, she reaffirmed her intention to lead the Conservatives into the next general election.

At the same time she acknowledged that the manifesto pledge to give MPs the opportunity to reverse the ban on hunting with hounds was one of the issues which cost them votes at last June’s disastrous snap election when her Commons majority was wiped out.

“My own view hasn’t changed but as Prime Minister my job isn’t just about what I think about something, it’s actually about looking at what the view of the country is,” she told BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show.

“I think there was a clear message about that and that’s why I say there won’t be a vote on fox hunting during this parliament.” In a wide ranging interview, Mrs May: Defended the Government’s handling of the NHS winter crisis while acknowledging “nothing’s perfect” in the health service;

Confirmed plans to review decisionmaking by the Parole Board following the outcry over the release of black cab rapist John Worboys;

Promised £5.7 million of Government fundingtocreateanew“NorthernForest” stretching from Liverpool to Hull.

Despite the setback at the last election, Mrs May insisted she still wanted to lead her party into the next election due to take place in 2022, declaring: “I’m not a quitter. I’m in this for the long term.”

But pressed on whether she would still be there the next time the country goes to the polls, she replied: “Obviously I serve as long as people want me to serve.”

Downing Street sources indicated the reshuffle was expected to be conducted over two days, with junior and middleranking ministerial appointments likely to continue into tomorrow.

It is likely to represent her biggest overhaul of her top team since she appointed her first Cabinet on entering No 10 in 2016.

Picture: Getty Images. Prime Minister Theresa May talking to Andrew Marr on his BBC1 show.