Ministers fear for their jobs if it’s a landslide
THE Prime Minister’s decision to call a snap poll did not just shock the nation – it also sent a shiver through Ministers who have recently fallen out with the Downing Street regime.
They fear that Theresa May will be emboldened by a landslide win to stamp her mark on her Cabinet by clearing out those Ministers who have lost her trust. Although No10 denies that Mrs May is considering a ‘major’ reshuffle – interpreted as a sign that the big three jobs of Chancellor, Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary will remain unchanged – a number of senior Ministers are still sleeping uneasily. Among those at risk of the chop are Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom and Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid. Most vulnerable are those Ministers who Mrs May’s praetorian guard at No10 regard as ‘overhangs’ from David Cameron’s regime – such as Mr Hunt. Although sources point to the long-running junior doctors dispute, the main black mark against the Health Secretary is that the Mayites regard him as a Cameron acolyte.
Mr Javid, who was tipped as a future leader when Mr Cameron was Prime Minister, has been blamed for the rows which blew up earlier this year over business rate hikes for small shops. Education Secretary Justine Greening has also annoyed Mrs May by being ‘lukewarm’ about the PM’s flagship policy of expanding grammar schools and is tipped to move to a different job.
Those tipped for promotion include Cabinet Office Minister Ben Gummer, 39, who has a pivotal role in Downing Street.