Sunak carries out Whitehall shake-up with minister reshuffle

RISHI Sunak has carried out a sweeping shake-up of Whitehall, creating a new department for energy security and net zero amid promises to cut household bills and halve inflation.

The creation of four new government departments, aimed at boosting economic growth and addressing the energy crisis, marks a major reshaping of some key UK Government departments.

Mr Sunak also replaced sacked Tory Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi with Greg Hands, who had been trade minister.

“The government needs to reflect the priorities of the British people and be designed to deliver for them,” the Prime Minister tweeted. “These changes will focus teams on the issues that will build a better future for our children & grandchildren.”

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which will be tasked with securing the UK’s long-term energy supply, will be headed up by Grant Shapps, who had been business secretary.

Mr Shapps tweeted that he was “delighted” to lead the new ministry.

“My focus will be securing our long-term energy supply, bringing down bills and thereby helping to halve inflation,” he said.

Full details of the responsibilities of the new departments were expected to be set out later yesterday, No.10 said. But Downing Street pointed out that linking energy and net zero more explicitly made sense.

“I think the public will judge us by our actions and our continued approach on net zero,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

“We do think it’s right to more clearly pull out the government’s focus on that linkage to long-term energy security because the two very much go together.”

Departmental officials were believed to have been largely blindsided by the announcement, which was drawn up by a close circle in Number 10 and the Cabinet Office.

One main element of the reshuffle saw the business, trade and culture departments restructured into four different ministries, bringing with it some changes in Cabinet roles too.

Kemi Badenoch, who was international trade secretary, will now lead the joint Department for Business and Trade.

Lucy Frazer joins the Cabinet as Culture Secretary.