2020 British cabinet reshuffle explained

Boris Johnson carried out the first significant reshuffle of his majority government on 13 February 2020. Following the December 2019 general election, there was considerable speculation that Johnson was planning a major reshuffle of the Cabinet, to take place after the United Kingdom's official withdrawal from the European Union on 31 January 2020. There were reports that up to a third of the Cabinet would be dismissed, Whitehall departments abolished and civil servants replaced by policy experts; however, the reshuffle was smaller than expected and no departments were abolished.[1] The anticipated reshuffle was nicknamed "The St Valentine's Day Massacre" in the press, due to its proximity to St Valentine's Day, the name being a reference to the 1929 gangland shooting in Chicago.[2] [3]

Johnson formed his first ministry on 24 July 2019, following his election as Leader of the Conservative Party and subsequent appointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.[4] In September 2019, he carried out small reshuffles in response to the resignations of two Cabinet ministers (Jo Johnson and Amber Rudd).[5] [6] After the Conservative Party's victory in the 2019 general election, Johnson's only change had been to fill the position left vacant by Alun Cairns' resignation in the previous month.[7]

On 13 February 2020, Johnson reshuffled the government. Five Cabinet ministers were sacked, including the Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith, a decision that was criticised by several politicians and commentators following Smith's success in restoring the devolved Northern Ireland Executive under the terms of the New Decade, New Approach agreement.[8] Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid resigned from the Cabinet after refusing Johnson's demand that he dismiss his advisers.[9]

This was the last major cabinet reshuffle before the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, and was followed by two more reshuffles in 2021 and 2022.

Cabinet-level changes

MinisterPosition before reshuffleResult of reshuffle
Rt Hon The Baroness Morgan of Cotes PCSecretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and SportLeft the government (intention to stand down announced in January 2020)
Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MPMinister for the Cabinet Office
Paymaster General
Became Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Rt Hon Michael Gove MPChancellor of the Duchy of LancasterGiven additional role as Minister for the Cabinet Office
Rt Hon Julian Smith CBE MPSecretary of State for Northern IrelandLeft the government
Rt Hon Brandon Lewis CBE MPMinister of State for Security and Deputy for EU Exit and No Deal PreparationBecame Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Rt Hon Esther McVey MPMinister of State for Housing and PlanningLeft the government
Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MPSecretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial StrategyLeft the government
Rt Hon Alok Sharma MPSecretary of State for International DevelopmentBecame Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Anne-Marie Trevelyan MPMinister of State for the Armed ForcesBecame Secretary of State for International Development
Rt Hon Geoffrey Cox QC MPAttorney General for England and Wales
Advocate General for Northern Ireland
Left the government
Suella Braverman MPBackbench MPBecame Attorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland
Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MPSecretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsLeft the government
George Eustice MPMinister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodBecame Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Rt Hon Sajid Javid MPChancellor of the ExchequerResigned after refusing to dismiss his advisers
Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MPChief Secretary to the TreasuryBecame Chancellor of the Exchequer
Rt Hon Steve Barclay MPBackbench MP, previously Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union until January 31 2020Became Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Rt Hon James Cleverly TD VR MPMinister without Portfolio
(Chairman of the Conservative Party)
Left the Cabinet; became Minister of State for the Middle East & North Africa and International Development
Amanda Milling MPDeputy Chief Government WhipTreasurer of the HouseholdBecame Minister without Portfolio (and Chairman of the Conservative Party)
Rt Hon Jake Berry MPMinister of State for the Northern PowerhouseResigned after refusing a new position at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office[10]

Junior ministerial changes

MinisterPosition before reshuffleResult of reshuffle
Rt Hon Chris Skidmore FRHistS FSA FRSA MPMinister of State for Universities, Science, Research and InnovationLeft the government
Michelle Donelan MPBackbencherBecame Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation
George Freeman MPMinister of State for TransportLeft the government
Andrew Stephenson MPMinister of State for Africa and International DevelopmentBecame Minister of State for Transport
Nigel Adams MPMinister of State for Sport, Media & Creative IndustriesBecame Minister of State for Africa and International Development
Caroline Dinenage MPMinister of State for Social CareBecame Minister of State for Sport, Media & Creative Industries
Helen Whately MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Arts, Heritage and TourismBecame Minister of State for Social Care
Nigel Huddleston MPBackbencherBecame Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Arts, Heritage and Tourism
Rt Hon John Whittingdale OBE MPBackbencherBecame Minister of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Nus Ghani MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for TransportLeft the government
Kelly Tolhurst MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial StrategyBecame Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
Paul Scully MPBackbencherBecame Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Minister for London
Chris Philp MPMinister for LondonBecame Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Home Affairs
James Heappey MPBackbencherBecame Minister of State for the Armed Forces
Rt Hon Dr Andrew Murrison MPMinister of State for International Development and the Middle EastLeft the government
Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MPBackbencherBecame Paymaster General
Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MPMinister of State for Europe and the AmericasBecame Minister of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Rt Hon James Brokenshire MPBackbencherBecame Minister of State for Security
Jeremy Quin MPParliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet OfficeBecame Minister for Defence Procurement
Julia Lopez MPBackbencherBecame Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office
Chloe Smith MPParliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet OfficeBecame Minister of State for the Cabinet Office
Robin Walker MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern IrelandBecame Minister of State for Northern Ireland
Heather Wheeler MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsLeft the government
Wendy Morton MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for JusticeBecame Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and International Development as Minister for European Neighbourhood and the Americas
James Duddridge MPBackbencherBecame Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and International Development
Alex Chalk MPBackbencherBecame Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice
Victoria Prentis MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the House of CommonsBecame Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Amanda Solloway MPBackbencherBecame Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation
Paul Maynard MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for TransportLeft the government
Rachel Maclean MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the ExchequerBecame Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
Gillian Keegan MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Health and Social CareBecame Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education
Simon Clarke MPExchequer Secretary to the TreasuryBecame Minister of State for the Northern Powerhouse
Kemi Badenoch MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and FamiliesBecame Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Trade
Vicky Ford MPBackbencherBecame Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families
Kit Malthouse MPMinister of State for Crime, Policing and the Fire ServiceGiven additional position as Minister of State for Justice
The Lord Goldsmith of Richmond ParkMinister of State for the EnvironmentGiven additional position as Minister of State for Pacific
The Lord Agnew of OultonParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the School SystemBecame Minister of State for Efficiency and Transformation[11]
The Lord TrueBackbench PeerBecame Minister of State for European Union Relations and Constitutional Policy

Whips' Office appointments

WhipPrevious positionNew position
Stuart Andrew MPVice-Chamberlain of the HouseholdDeputy Chief Government Whip
Treasurer of the Household
Marcus Jones MPAssistant Government WhipVice-Chamberlain of the Household
James Morris MPLord Commissioner of the Treasury
Michael Tomlinson MPBackbencher
Alex Chalk MPAssistant Government Whip
Eddie Hughes MP
The Viscount Younger of Leckierowspan3=Lord-in-waiting
Government Whip
The Baroness Scott of Bybrookrowspan3=Baroness-in-Waiting
Government Whip

Reaction

Dismissal of Julian Smith

The decision to dismiss Julian Smith as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland was criticised by a number of prominent political figures in Northern Ireland, including SDLP leader Colum Eastwood who described the move as showing "dangerous indifference" by the Prime Minister.[12] Smith had been widely seen as instrumental in securing a cross-party deal to restore the Northern Ireland Executive, the New Decade, New Approach agreement, after three years without a devolved government in Stormont.[13] Tributes to Smith's tenure as Northern Ireland Secretary were paid by NI First Minister Arlene Foster and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Both praised him for his role in ending the political deadlock in the country.[14] [15]

Many political commentators expressed their surprise at Smith's dismissal, given his perceived success during his time as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Some suggested that Smith's testimony to the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee in October 2019, in which he described a potential no-deal Brexit as being "a very, very bad idea for Northern Ireland",[16] had influenced the decision to remove him from his position.[17] Stephen Bush, political editor of the New Statesman, speculated that the consequence of Johnson's removal of Smith would be the destabilisation of the new power-sharing agreement and increased difficulty in negotiating the details of the "New Protocol".[18]

Resignation of Sajid Javid

Tensions between 10 Downing Street and the Treasury had come to a head in August 2019, when the Prime Minister's Chief Special Adviser Dominic Cummings dismissed one of Chancellor Sajid Javid's aides, Sonia Khan, without Javid's permission and without informing him. It was alleged that, during her dismissal, Cummings "went outside No 10 and asked an armed officer to enter the building and escort Khan off the premises."[19] In November 2019, following questions of a rift between the two men, Johnson gave his assurance that he would retain Javid as Chancellor after the 2019 general election.[20]

However, in the weeks leading up to the reshuffle, a number of briefings in the press had suggested that a new economic ministry led by Rishi Sunak might be established, to reduce the power and political influence of the Treasury. Sunak was considered to be a Johnson loyalist, seen as the "rising star" minister who had ably represented the Prime Minister during the 2019 election debates.[21] [22] By February 2020, it was reported that Javid would remain in his role as Chancellor and that Sunak would stay on as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, in order to "keep an eye" on Javid.[23]

On 13 February 2020, the day of the reshuffle, Javid resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer, following a meeting with the Prime Minister. During the meeting, Johnson had offered to allow Javid to keep his position on the condition that he dismiss all his advisers at the Treasury and replace them with ones selected by 10 Downing Street. Upon resigning, Javid told the Press Association that "no self-respecting minister would accept those terms".[24] [25]

The Chancellor's resignation had been unexpected, given Johnson's commitment to keep him in the Cabinet and recent reports that a rival finance ministry would not be created. Robert Shrimsley, chief political commentator of the Financial Times, warned that the Prime Minister's handling of his relationship with Javid could damage the government. He argued that "good government often depends on senior ministers – and the chancellor in particular – being able to fight bad ideas. Mr Johnson's cabinet has just seen the price of defiance".[26]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Now for the Boris Johnson revolution — PM to wield axe in radical cabinet reshuffle. Shipman, Tim. 15 December 2019. The Times.
  2. News: The strategy behind Boris Johnson's incoming government shake-up. 13 January 2020. Balls, Katy. The Spectator. 13 February 2020. 17 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200217215023/https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2020/01/the-strategy-behind-boris-johnsons-incoming-government-shake-up/. dead.
  3. News: Will Boris Johnson's post-Brexit reshuffle be a Valentine's Day massacre?. 5 February 2020. Tominey, Camilla. Daily Telegraph.
  4. News: Boris Johnson becomes UK's new prime minister . 24 July 2019. BBC News.
  5. News: Chris Skidmore returns as universities minister in UK government. 10 September 2019. Times Higher Education. Havergal, Chris.
  6. News: Therese Coffey replaces Amber Rudd in cabinet after dramatic resignation. 8 September 2019. ITV News.
  7. News: Simon Hart appointed new Welsh secretary . 16 December 2019 . BBC News.
  8. News: Smith, Leadsom and McVey out as Johnson reshuffles cabinet. 13 February 2020. Walker, Peter. The Guardian.
  9. News: Cabinet reshuffle: Sajid Javid resigns as chancellor. BBC News. 13 February 2020.
  10. Web site: Schofield . Kevin . 2020-02-25 . Boris Johnson ally quits government after turning down Foreign Office job . 2022-05-26 . Politics Home . en.
  11. Jointly with HM Treasury
  12. News: Julian Smith sacked as NI Secretary by Boris Johnson. BBC News. 13 February 2020.
  13. News: Boris Johnson fires Julian Smith, minister who secured Stormont deal. Elliott, Francis. Swinford, Steven. The Times. 13 February 2020.
  14. News: Julian Smith sacked from Northern Ireland post in Boris Johnson's Cabinet reshuffle. 13 February 2020. Belfast Telegraph. Edwards, Mark.
  15. Leo Varadkar . LeoVaradkar . 1227917665697697793 . 13 February 2020 . In 8 months as Secretary of State, Julian you helped to restore powersharing in Stormont, secured an agreement with us to avoid a hard border, plus marriage equality. You are one of Britain’s finest politicians of our time. Thank you.
  16. News: Julian Smith breaks ranks with Boris Johnson to brand no-deal Brexit 'very bad' for Northern Ireland. 23 October 2019. PoliticsHome. Mairs, Nicholas.
  17. News: Boris Johnson news – live: PM axes Tory minister who helped secure Stormont deal, as fresh questions raised over £15,000 Caribbean holiday. https://web.archive.org/web/20200213113533/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-news-live-cabinet-reshuffle-brexit-gove-rees-mogg-latest-today-a9332876.html . 2020-02-13 . limited . live. Forrest, Adam. 13 February 2020. The Independent.
  18. News: Boris Johnson has already made the most important sacking of today's reshuffle. 13 February 2020. Bush, Stephen. New Statesman.
  19. News: PM 'must launch urgent inquiry into Dominic Cummings's reign of terror'. Helm, Toby. Townsend,Mark. 1 September 2019. The Guardian.
  20. News: Boris Johnson vows to retain Sajid Javid as chancellor. Parker, George. Payne, Sebastian. 18 November 2019. Financial Times.
  21. News: Johnson's 'favourite minister' tipped to run super-ministry. 25 December 2019. Financial Times. Parker, George.
  22. News: Is Sajid Javid at war with No. 10?. Balls, Katy. The Spectator. 13 February 2020. 13 February 2020. 13 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200213123641/https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2020/02/is-sajid-javid-at-war-with-no-10/. dead.
  23. News: Ministers jostle as Johnson plans long-awaited reshuffle. 5 February 2020. Mason, Rowena. The Guardian.
  24. News: Sajid Javid resigns as chancellor amid Johnson reshuffle. Mason, Rowena. 13 February 2020. The Guardian.
  25. News: Sajid Javid quits as British Chancellor. 13 February 2020. RTÉ.
  26. News: Johnson has backed Cummings over his chancellor — and there will be a cost. 13 February 2020. Financial Times. Shrimsley, Robert.