UK: PM Rishi Sunak Appoints New Cabinet

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Facts

  • Rishi Sunak has filled key ministerial posts in his government, after being appointed as the UK's PM on Tuesday. The new Conservative party leader enacted an extensive reshuffle that has seen many of his predecessor Liz Truss' supporters leave cabinet.
  • Those who have exited include business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, Conservative Party chairman Sir Jake Berry, and chief tory whip Wendy Morton. Brandon Lewis has also been removed from his role as justice secretary, while Robert Buckland has been relieved as secretary of state for Wales.
  • Jeremy Hunt — who backed Sunak in the last two leadership races — has kept his role as head of the treasury after being appointed chancellor by Truss earlier this month. James Cleverly, who initially backed Boris Johnson returning as prime minister when Truss resigned, has also remained as foreign secretary.
  • Only days after she resigned over accusations that she had broken the ministerial code, Suella Braverman returned to her former role as home secretary. Meanwhile, senior Conservative politician Michael Gove was appointed levelling up secretary, while Dominic Raab will be Sunak's justice secretary and deputy prime minister — both have previously held their respective roles under Boris Johnson.
  • Sunak's only declared leadership rival, Penny Mordaunt, kept her post as leader of the House of Commons despite speculation that she was eyeing the position of foreign secretary.
  • The UK's new leader has promised to place "economic stability and confidence" at the centre of his government's plan, and has claimed his administration will have "integrity, professionalism, and accountability at every level." The reshuffle comes at a time of intense division among the Conservative parliamentary party.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Independent, Sky News, Telegraph, and BBC News.

Narratives

  • Right narrative, as provided by The Telegraph. Sunak's cabinet reshuffle is an essential remedy following the disaster of Truss' premiership and his changes will go a long way to restoring stability. The PM's focus on party unity and ministerial experience is the right approach as he attempts to guide the UK through a difficult economic and political period.
  • Left narrative, as provided by Mirror. In a desperate attempt to stabilize his own position and unite warring Tories, Sunak has brought back a gang of talentless ex-ministers with records as frontbench flops. This outdated and bland cabinet will only see the UK continue in its unsuccessful status quo that has wreaked havoc in recent years. This is a discouraging start.