Sunak’s reshuffle
Rishi Sunak unveiled a shake-up of Whitehall this week in the hope of generating faster economic growth. The sprawling business department has been split up, creating three new ministries – Energy Security and Net Zero; Business and Trade; Science, Innovation and Technology – led by Grant Shapps, Kemi Badenoch and Michelle Donelan respectively. Opposition parties said the reorganisation would be a costly distraction, but Sunak said the changes would help the Government deliver on his priorities.
Greg Hands was named as Tory chairman, replacing Nadhim Zahawi. Lee Anderson, a former Labour councillor dubbed the “Red Wall Rottweiler” for his outspoken views, will serve as his deputy. There was no change to the position of Dominic Raab, the Deputy PM, who is being investigated over bullying allegations and who is under pressure to stand down pending the outcome of the inquiry. Dozens of officials are thought to be involved in eight formal complaints. Raab denies all the allegations.
What the editorials said
Critics may dismiss the reshuffle as a “rearranging of the Whitehall deckchairs”, but there’s a sound logic to it, said The Daily Telegraph. It makes sense for one Cabinet minister to focus on energy policy. And many believe that efforts in science, innovation and tech have suffered “from being insufficiently joined up”. The decision to effectively re-establish the old department for trade and industry, under Badenoch, is also sensible, said The Times. It will allow the focus to “return to trade promotion in a powerful Whitehall department dedicated to ensuring Britain is a highly competitive place to do business”.
The reshuffle was also designed to bolster Sunak’s position, said The Guardian. As it didn’t involve sacking anyone, and promoted some new faces, it may help him lead his party. But the changes will inevitably disturb the business of governing: England now has its sixth housing minister in a year. The rejigging of departments will be disruptive, agreed the Evening Standard. New ministries often “consume vast reserves of Whitehall energy simply procuring enough chairs for workers and establishing new HR protocols”.