First Johnson ministry explained
The first Johnson ministry began on 24 July 2019 when Queen Elizabeth II invited Boris Johnson to form a government, following the resignation of the predecessor Prime Minister Theresa May.[1] May had resigned as Leader of the Conservative Party on 7 June 2019; Johnson was elected as her successor on 23 July 2019. The Johnson ministry was formed from the 57th Parliament of the United Kingdom, as a Conservative minority government. It lost its working majority on 3 September 2019 when Tory MP Phillip Lee crossed the floor to the Liberal Democrats. An election was called for 12 December 2019, which led to the formation of a Conservative majority government, the second Johnson ministry.
History
Theresa May announced on 24 May 2019 that she would resign as Leader of the Conservative Party and therefore Prime Minister, after failing three times to secure passage through the House of Commons of her Withdrawal Agreement and Implementation Bill, which would have seen the United Kingdom leave the European Union. Her announcement also followed the Conservative Party's very poor showing in the 2019 European Parliament elections in the UK. Her resignation as Conservative leader took effect on 7 June 2019.
The former London Mayor and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was elected to succeed May on 23 July 2019. He was appointed Prime Minister on the following day by Queen Elizabeth II. Johnson inherited a minority government, supported by a confidence and supply agreement with the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland.
Johnson appointed his cabinet on 24 July 2019, describing it as a "Cabinet for modern Britain",[2] with The Guardian branding it "an ethnically diverse but ideologically homogeneous statement of intent".[3] While forming his government, Johnson dismissed 11 senior ministers and accepted the resignation of six others, a purge described by Johnson's ally Nigel Evans as "not so much a reshuffle as a summer's day massacre".[4] [5] The mass dismissal was the most extensive Cabinet reorganisation without a change in ruling party in postwar British political history, exceeding the seven Cabinet ministers dismissed in the "Night of the Long Knives" of 1962,[6] and was dubbed the "Night of the Blond Knives" by The Sun.[7]
Among other appointments, Johnson made Dominic Raab the First Secretary of State and Foreign Secretary, and appointed Sajid Javid and Priti Patel as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary respectively. Johnson increased the number of ministers attending the Cabinet to 33, four more than had attended the May Cabinet. One quarter of those appointed were women, proportionally less than the May and Cameron ministries. The Cabinet set a new record for ethnic minority representation, with four secretaries of state and two additional ministers coming from minority backgrounds; 17% of the Cabinet were from BAME backgrounds, compared to 14% of the UK population. Nearly two-thirds of those appointed went to fee-paying schools, and almost half had attended Oxford or Cambridge universities. Johnson also created a new ministerial title to be held by himself, Minister for the Union, fulfilling a campaign pledge he had made in the leadership election.[8]
Loss of majority and ministerial resignations
Johnson lost his working majority on 3 September 2019, when Phillip Lee crossed the floor to join the Liberal Democrats.[9] [10] This was reduced further later the same day when 21 Conservative MPs had the whip removed after voting against the Government in order to enable Parliament to take control of the order paper and to debate a back bench bill designed to prevent a no-deal Brexit.[11]
On 5 September 2019, Johnson's brother and Orpington MP Jo Johnson announced his intention to resign both his ministerial position and parliamentary seat, stating "In recent weeks I've been torn between family loyalty and the national interest — it's an unresolvable tension & time for others to take on my roles as MP & Minister."[12] On 7 September 2019, Amber Rudd announced she was resigning as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Minister for Women and Equalities, and leaving the Conservative Party.[13]
Amid an impasse in parliament over Brexit, an election was called for 12 December 2019 by virtue of the passage of the Early Parliamentary General Election Act 2019 on 31 October 2019. The Conservatives won a majority, leading to the formation of the second Johnson ministry on 16 December 2019.
Cabinet
July–December 2019
Portfolio!width=85 | Portrait | width=350 | Minister | Term |
|---|
| Cabinet ministers |
| | | 2019–2022 |
| | | 2019–2020 |
| | | 2019–2021 |
| | | 2019–2022 |
| | | 2019–2021 |
| | | 2019–2021 |
| | | 2018–2020 |
| | | 2019–2023 |
| | | 2018–2021 |
| | | 2019–2020 |
| | | 2019–2021 |
| Sept 2019–2022 |
| | 2018 – Sept 2019[14] |
|
| | Sept 2019 – Sept 2022 |
| | | 2019–2021 |
| | | 2019–2020 |
| | | 2019–2021 |
| | | 2019–2022 |
| | | 2019–2020 |
| | | 2019–2024 |
| | | 2016 – November 2019 |
| | | 2016–2022 |
| | | 2019–2020 |
| | | 2019–2020 |
| | | 2019–2020 |
| Also attending cabinet meetings |
| | | 2019–2020 |
| | | 2019–2022 |
| | | 2019–2022 |
| | | 2018–2020 |
| | | 2019–2021 |
| | | 2019–2020 |
| | | 2019–2020 |
| | | 2019–2020 |
| | | July–Sept 2019[15] |
| | | Sept–Dec 2019 |
| | | 2019–2020 | |
Changes
- Jo Johnson quit the government on 5 September 2019 and said that he would resign as an MP.[16] His spot in the cabinet was filled by Zac Goldsmith, who was made Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and at the Department for International Development on 10 September 2019.[17]
- Amber Rudd resigned from the cabinet and from the Conservative Party on 7 September 2019.[13] She was replaced as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by Thérèse Coffey on 8 September 2019, and as Minister for Women and Equalities by Liz Truss on 10 September 2019.[18] [19]
- Alun Cairns resigned from his post of Welsh Secretary on 6 November 2019.[20]
List of ministers
Prime Minister and Cabinet Office
Departments of State
| Education |
|---|
| Secretary of State for Education | Gavin Williamson | July 2019December 2019 |
| Minister of State for School Standards | | May 2015December 2019 |
| Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research & Innovation | Jo Johnson
| July 2019September 2019 |
Chris Skidmore
| September 2019December 2019 |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Children and Families) | | July 2019December 2019 |
| Michelle Donelan (Maternity Cover) | September 2019December 2019 |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for the School System) | | July 2019December 2019 | |
| Foreign and Commonwealth Office |
|---|
| | Dominic Raab | July 2019December 2019 |
| Minister of State for Europe and the Americas | | July 2019December 2019 |
| Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa | Andrew Murrison
| May 2019December 2019 |
| Minister of State for Africa | Andrew Stephenson
| July 2019December 2019 |
| Minister of State for the Commonwealth, the UN and South Asia | | June 2017December 2019 |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Asia and the Pacific) | | July 2019December 2019 | |
| International Trade |
|---|
| | Liz Truss
| July 2019December 2019 |
| Minister of State for International Trade | | July 2019December 2019 |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Investment) | | July 2019December 2019 |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Women) | Victoria Atkins
| September 2019December 2019 |
| Minister for Equalites | The Baroness Williams of Trafford
| September 2019December 2019 | |
| Transport |
|---|
| Secretary of State for Transport | Grant Shapps | July 2019December 2019 |
| Minister of State for Rail | | July 2019December 2019 |
| Minister of State for High Speed 2 | | July 2019December 2019 |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Aviation & Maritime | Nus Ghani
| January 2018December 2019 |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Future of Transport | | July 2019December 2019 |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Roads & Light Rail | The Baroness Vere of Norbiton | July 2019December 2019 | |
| Work and Pensions |
|---|
| Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | Amber Rudd
| July 2019September 2019 |
| Therese Coffey | September 2019December 2019 |
| Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work | | April 2019December 2019 |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions and Financial Innclusion | | June 2017December 2019 |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Welfare Delivery | | April 2019December 2019 |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Employment) | | July 2019December 2019 |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Work and Pensions) | | July 2019December 2019 |
| Minister of State for Equalities | The Baroness Williams of Trafford
| July 2019September 2019 |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Women) | Victoria Atkins
| July 2019September 2019 | |
Law officers
Parliament
| House of Commons Whips |
|---|
| | | July 2019December 2019 |
| | | July 2019December 2019 |
| | | July 2019December 2019 |
| | | July 2019December 2019 |
| | Colin Clark
| July 2019December 2019 |
| July 2019December 2019 |
| July 2019December 2019 |
| July 2019December 2019 |
| July 2019December 2019 |
Nus Ghani
| July 2019December 2019 |
Maggie Throup
| September 2019December 2019 |
| Assistant Whips | Kevin Foster
| July 2019December 2019 |
| July 2019December 2019 |
| July 2019December 2019 |
| July 2019December 2019 |
| July 2019December 2019 |
| July 2019December 2019 |
| July 2019December 2019 | |
Departures from the first Johnson ministry
This is a list of resignations from the first government formed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Since forming a government on 24 July 2019 after his appointment as Prime Minister, Johnson faced 4 resignations, including 2 cabinet ministers. This list omits sitting MPs who left the Conservative Party or had the whip withdrawn. It also discludes all ministers who resigned prior to Boris Johnson taking office as Prime Minister.
See also
Notes and References
- News: Boris Johnson becomes UK's new prime minister . 2019-07-24 . BBC News . 2019-07-24 . 24 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190724151517/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-49102466 . live .
- News: Boris Johnson: Does his cabinet reflect 'modern Britain'? . 25 July 2019 . BBC News . 25 July 2019 . 25 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190725151341/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-49034735 . live .
- News: How representative is Boris Johnson's new cabinet? . 25 July 2019 . The Guardian . 25 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190725133527/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2019/jul/25/how-representative-is-boris-johnsons-new-cabinet . live .
- News: Boris Johnson the Godfather takes his retribution in massacre of cabinet ministers. subscription. Swinford. Steven. Chorley. Matt. The Times. 25 July 2019. 27 July 2019. 27 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190727000529/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/boris-johnson-the-godfather-takes-his-retribution-in-massacre-of-cabinet-ministers-zxr5vvk00. live.
- News: 'Summer's day massacre' may spell backbench trouble for Boris Johnson. Syal. Rajeev. The Guardian. 24 July 2019. 27 July 2019. 24 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190724145240/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/24/philip-hammond-quits-johnson-fully-aligned-chancellor-gauke-stewart. live.
- News: Boris Johnson dismantles cabinet in reshuffle, building government around people who delivered Brexit vote. Woodcock. Andrew. The Independent. 25 July 2019. 27 July 2019. 25 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190725164336/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-cabinet-reshuffle-ministers-brexit-a9019726.html. live.
- News: 'Cabinet massacre': what the papers say about Boris Johnson's arrival in No 10. Lyons. Kate. The Guardian. 25 July 2019. 27 July 2019. 27 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190727034518/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/jul/25/cabinet-massacre-what-the-papers-say-about-boris-johnsons-arrival-in-no-10. live.
- News: Boris Johnson gives himself 'Minister for the Union' title. Murphy. Sean. 26 July 2019. 27 July 2019. The Scotsman. 26 July 2019. https://archive.today/20190726200301/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/boris-johnson-gives-himself-minister-for-the-union-title-1-4972145. live.
- News: Boris Johnson's government loses majority after Philip Lee defects. Payne. Sebastian; Parker, George. 3 September 2019. Financial Times. 3 September 2019. subscription. 3 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190903223843/https://www.ft.com/content/772154dc-ce68-11e9-99a4-b5ded7a7fe3f. live.
- News: Tory MP defects ahead of crucial Brexit vote. 2019-09-03. 2019-09-04. en-GB. 3 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190903145803/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-49570682. live.
- News: Brexit: Boris Johnson defeated as MPs take control. 4 September 2019. BBC News Website. 4 September 2019. 3 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190903234146/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49573555. live.
- News: Jo Johnson to quit as minister and MP. 5 September 2019. Financial Times Online. 5 September 2019. 5 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190905111512/https://www.ft.com/content/b2438ea8-cfc7-11e9-99a4-b5ded7a7fe3f. live.
- News: Shipman . Tim . Exclusive: Amber Rudd resigns from cabinet and quits Tories . 7 September 2019 . Times . 7 September 2019 . 31 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191031005103/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/8ce8dbe4-d1a3-11e9-bac7-3a108794927b . live .
- AmberRuddHR . Amber Rudd . 1170429481879842817 . 7 September 2019 . I have resigned from Cabinet and surrendered the Conservative Whip. .
- News: Jo Johnson to quit as minister and MP. 5 September 2019. Financial Times Online. 5 September 2019.
- News: PM's brother quits as Tory MP and minister . 2019-09-05 . BBC News . 2019-09-05 . en-GB . 5 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190905105232/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-49594793 . live .
- News: Boris Johnson gives new roles to Truss and Goldsmith in mini-reshuffle . Mason . Rowena . 11 September 2019 . The Guardian . 11 September 2019 . 11 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190911000809/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/10/johnson-gives-new-roles-to-truss-and-goldsmith-in-mini-reshuffle . live .
- News: Liz Truss handed equalities ministerial role. 2019-09-10. 2019-09-10. en-GB. 11 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190911082908/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-49657071. live.
- News: Therese Coffey replaces Amber Rudd in cabinet after dramatic resignation . ITV News . 2019-09-09 . en . 9 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190909042811/https://www.itv.com/news/2019-09-08/therese-coffey-replaces-amber-rudd-in-cabinet-after-dramatic-resignation/ . live .
- News: Minister quits in aide's rape trial 'sabotage' row . 2019-11-06 . BBC News . 2019-11-06 . en-GB . 6 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191106160550/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-50302173 . live .
- Web site: Brexit: Tory grandee Lord Young quits over Boris Johnson's parliament suspension. 29 August 2019. The Independent.
- Web site: Jo Johnson, Boris Johnson's Brother, Resigns From Parliament. 5 September 2019. HuffPost UK. en. 2019-09-07.
- News: Exclusive: Amber Rudd resigns from cabinet and quits Tories. Shipman. Tim. Tim Shipman. 7 September 2019. The Times. 2019-09-07. en. 0140-0460.
- News: Alun Cairns resigns in Ross England rape trial 'sabotage' row. BBC News. 6 November 2019.
