NewsUKUK PoliticsDeparting minister inists PM should not be caretaker and should apologise to Queen
Who could replace Boris Johnson in the role of prime minister?
Boris Johnson is appointing a new Cabinet despite preparing to resign shortly as prime minister, as he seeks to remain in office until a new Tory leader is elected.
Critics have insisted that the prime minister should hand over power today, after he finally agreed to resign on Thursday morning amid a slew of more than 50 resignations.
Michelle Donelan’s departure as education secretary just 35 hours into the role made her the fifth Cabinet minister to quit, while new chancellor Nadhim Zahawi publicly urged Mr Johnson to “do the right thing and go now”, and attorney general Suella Braverman revealed ambitions to replace him as PM.
The dramatic collapse in support came after it emerged Mr Johnson promoted Chris Pincher to a role with responsibility for MPs’ welfare, despite knowledge of misconduct claims against him.
Departing ministers and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer were among those insisting Mr Johnson leave Downing Street today, after a No 10 source suggested he would remain in post until a new Tory leader is elected in the autumn.
1657193361Lectern set up outside No 10 as PM poised to announce resignationThe lectern is being set up outside Downing Street, with the prime minister set to make his speech imminently.
(The Independent)
Andy Gregory7 July 2022 12:29
1657192518Cabinet jobs for Clark, Buckland and CleverlyBoris Johnson has appointed Greg Clark as levelling up secretary, Robert Buckland as Welsh secretary, and James Cleverly as education secretary as he desperately tries to fill vacant cabinet posts in a bid to stay on as caretaker prime minister until the autumn:
Jane Dalton7 July 2022 12:15
1657192389New Northern Ireland secretary appointedNorth West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara has been appointed Northern Ireland secretary and Kit Malthouse as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the most senior minister in the Cabinet Office after the Prime Minister.
Jane Dalton7 July 2022 12:13
1657191799Tories won’t ‘unite’ around PM in event of confidence vote, Starmer predictsSir Keir Starmer has dismissed suggestions that Tories would rally behind Boris Johnson if Labour forces a confidence vote in the event he refuses to leave No 10.
“If they don’t get rid of him, Labour will step up in the national interest and bring a vote of no confidence because we can’t go on with this prime minister clinging on for months and months to come,” the Labour leader said.
Asked if Tory MPs would “unite” behind the man in No 10, Sir Keir argued: “I don’t think anything will unite this particular Conservative party.”
Andy Gregory7 July 2022 12:03
1657191538Greg Clark, James Cleverly and Robert Buckland appointed to Cabinet positionsBoris Johnson has named Conservative MP Greg Clark as his levelling up secretary and James Cleverly as education secretary as he desperately tries to fill vacant Cabinet posts in a bid to stay on as caretaker prime minister until the autumn.
Robert Buckland has been named secretary of state for Wales:
Our political correspondent Adam Forrest has more details here:
Andy Gregory7 July 2022 11:58
1657191174Starmer threatens confidence vote as he warns PM must not be allowed to ‘cling on’Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Boris Johnson must not be allowed to “cling on” in No 10 once he has resigned as Tory leader and threatened to use a Commons confidence motion to oust him.
Andy Gregory7 July 2022 11:52
1657190532Minister indicates he could return to post now Boris Johnson set to resignFormer technologies minister Chris Philp has indicated he would return to government if required, now that Boris Johnson is set to resign as Conservative Party leader.
Mr Philp, who resigned only hours ago, told Sky News he would not refuse to help out the government if it needed to pass legislation through the Commons, but he was not looking for his job back.
He said: “I think all of us in public life are here to serve the country and if I was able to do that in whatever capacity, then obviously I’d be happy to serve.
“If I was asked to help out with getting the Online Safety Bill through Parliament, okay, I would be willing to help out in whatever way I could, in any capacity, whoever the leader was.
“I’m not asking for that (his old post). I’m not expecting it. I resigned and when you resign, you resign.”
He also said that he had not given any thought to the best candidate to replace Mr Johnson.
Andy Gregory7 July 2022 11:42
1657190184Breaking: Boris Johnson to appoint new ministers as he seeks to remain as ‘caretaker’ PMBoris Johnson is expected to make ministerial appointments shortly as he seeks to continue in office until a new Tory leader is elected.
“The prime minister will shortly make new appointments to his ministerial team,” a No 10 source said.
Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has the full story here:
Andy Gregory7 July 2022 11:36
1657189678Watch: Boris Johnson has ‘always been manifestly unfit’ for office of PM, says Nicola SturgeonEven before the last few days, Boris Johnson “was not leading an effective or properly functioning government” – instead “lurching from self-imposed crisis to self-imposed crisis”, Nicola Sturgeon has suggested.
“Boris Johnson has always in my view been manifestly unfit for the office of prime minister,” Scotland’s first minister said.
Sturgeon: Johnson has ‘always been manifestly unfit’ for office of PM
Andy Gregory7 July 2022 11:27
1657189445Ben Wallace ‘clear’ frontrunner for next PM among Tory members, polling suggestsDefence secretary Ben Wallace has emerged as the “clear” favourite to replace Boris Johnson among Tory Party members, according to YouGov.
While the polling – carried out on Wednesday and Thursday – suggests Mr Wallace (13) is only one point ahead of Penny Mordaunt (12), and just three ahead of Rishi Sunak (10), he emerges as the “clear winner” when placed in head-to-head contests with other frontrunners.
Mr Wallace storms ahead of the other candidates, as relayed by YouGov:
Wallace v Sunak: 51% v 30% Wallace v Truss: 48% v 29% Wallace v Mordaunt: 48% v 26% Wallace v Hunt: 58% v 22% Andy Gregory7 July 2022 11:24
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