Britain’s May limits Cabinet reshuffling

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May’s weakness was underlined Sunday as she announced limited changes to her Cabinet before a showdown with her Conservative Party’s lawmakers Monday.

May was unable to make wholesale changes to her government after losing her majority in the House of Commons in Thursday’s elections. The only major change was the promotion of her friend and ally Damian Green, previously the work and pensions secretary, to first secretary of state.

The announcements of Cabinet appointments followed a night of chaos over her bid for an agreement with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party to support her government. Her office was forced to admit it hadn’t achieved a final deal just hours after announcing that it had.

May will meet with DUP leader Arlene Foster in London Tuesday to secure the support of the party’s 10 members of Parliament. The Conservatives, nine seats short in Commons, will be unable to pass controversial legislation without the DUP, the only minor party willing to consider backing May.

May started making appointments to her Cabinet Sunday afternoon in a series of emails. Green’s appointment as first secretary of state — an office not included in every Cabinet — was the biggest change. The previous first secretary was George Osborne, whom May fired as chancellor of the exchequer last year.

David Gauke, formerly the chief secretary to the treasury, will replace Green as secretary of state for work and pensions. Greg Clark was reappointed business secretary.

Liz Truss, justice secretary before Thursday’s vote, was demoted to chief secretary to the Treasury. The role will see Truss “attending Cabinet” rather than holding a full Cabinet post. Former Europe Minister David Lidington succeeds Truss at the justice department.