May set to axe ‘pale and stale’ Ministers

THERESA MAY is plotting to rebrand her premiership by promoting a new generation of Conservative talent and clearing out the ‘ pale, male and stale’ from her ranks.

A ministerial re shuffle, which Mrs May is expected to start tomorrow, is likely to hand eye-catching promotions to women and MPs from nontraditional backgrounds as the Prime Minister tries to build a Government ‘more in the image of the country’.

A senior Government source said that while the Prime Min- ister was not intending to move any of the ‘big four’ – Chancellor Philip Hammond, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Amber Rudd or Brexit Secretary David Davis – she will inject some ‘youth, energy and fresh thinking’ into her ranks.

The source said: ‘ Theresa understands that, when voters look at her Government, they see a lot of stale, male and pale Ministers who are the wrong side of 50. She will be promoting more women and those from non-white backgrounds, and there will be more of an emphasis on youth.’

Party Chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin is widely expected to be sacked, while Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has been fighting a fierce rearguard action against demotion.

Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom is also vulnerable, while Education Secretary Justine Greening is at risk of a demotion. Those tipped for advancement include Braintree MP James Cleverly and Esher MP Dominic Raab.

Mrs May has deliberated for months over whether to hold a reshuffle.

Last night, the Prime Minister was urged to re-energise her party by allowing members to directly elect the chairman. Grant Shapps, who was party chairman under David Cameron, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘We are the only party that does not directly elect their party chairman or president. Doing so would provide our members with a compelling reason to belong.’

He added: ‘A combination of reasonable mid-Brexit negotiations, lack of obvious alternative and May’s dogged determination has given this Prime Minister the opportunity to make a fresh start in 2018.

‘Regardless of who leads us into the next Election, it is very much the duty of today’s leader to pay attention to fixing our rusty party machine.’

Mrs May will confirm today that she is abandoning plans to give MPs a vote on bringing back foxhunting after it proved t o be a vote- l oser at t he General Election.