May shuffles U.K. cabinet

Move meant to re-energize government as Brexit talks enter a crucial new phase

LONDON— British Prime Minister Theresa May started the new political year Monday with a cabinet shakeup, hoping to re-energize her government as negotiations on Britain’s divorce from the European Union enter a crucial new phase.

While senior ministers including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit Secretary David Davis are expected to keep their jobs, May is looking to make her Conservative government more representative of Britain. She is expected to appoint more women, people from ethnic minorities and recently elected lawmakers to ministerial posts.

Britain and the EU are set to begin discussing future trade relations, with just over a year to go until the U.K. leaves the bloc on March 29, 2019.

Britain hopes to secure agreement on a post-Brexit transition period by March 31, and to draft a withdrawal agreement by the end of this year.

She removed Patrick McLoughlin, who as Conservative Party chairperson oversaw last year’s disastrous election campaign. The party lost its majority in Parliament after May called a snap election aimed at consolidating her grip on power and strengthening her hand in Brexit talks with the EU.

McLoughlin was replaced Monday by Brandon Lewis, a former immigration minister.