by Callum McFadzean

TOP MOVES

Sajid Javid has resigned from his position as the government’s chancellor of the Exchequer and the UK’s top finance official. There had been rumours of tension between Javid and Boris Johnson’s senior advisor Dominic Cummings. Rishi Sunak, the 39-year old former chief secretary, has been promoted to the position despite lacking experience, Sunak was only recently a junior housing minister in 2018. Labour’s shadow secretary, John McDonnell has described the move to show the government is “in chaos”.

Julian Smith, the Northern Irish secretary of state, has been sacked from his position. This may come as a shock in both Northern Ireland and Ireland, after his efforts to seek a power sharing deal between the main Northern Irish political parties was successful. Smith has described his role as being the “biggest privilege”. Simon Coveney, Ireland’s deputy Prime Minister, described Smith as “an effective secretary of state for Nothern Ireland at a time of real challenge and risk”.

Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox, has also been fired from his position. His desire to remain in the job was made clear in a speech on Wednesday, however it has came to light that at request of the Prime Minister he has been asked to resign.

Esther McVey expressed disappointment in being relieved of her job as the housing minister. However, she has stated the government will “continue to have [her] support from the back benches”

Other movements include the sacking of prominent cabinet members, Andrea Leadsom, Theresa Villiers and Chris Skidmore, who have lost their positions.

NEW FACES

Alok Sharma, the former international development minister has been promoted to secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy. Sharma has also been placed in charge of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference that is due to take place in November in Glasgow.

Oliver Dowden and Anne-Marie Trevelyan have been promoted to culture minster and international development secretary respectively.

Suella Braverman has also replaced Geoffrey Cox as the attorney general. Braverman had a firm voice in promoting Brexit and resigned after disagreeing with Theresa May’s trade deal.

WHO IS STILL IN

Dominic Raab, Priti Patel and Michael Gove have all retained their positions within the cabinet. As well as Thérèse Coffey who has remained as the work and pensions secretary.

Gavin Williamson, George Eustice, and Robert Jenrick have also remained as government ministers through the reshuffle.

In terms of the biggest shocks from today’s reshuffle, the resignation of Sajid Javid may be top of the crop. Potentially a representation of the power struggle between cabinet ministers and internal issues of the government. The sacking of Julian Smith has also raised a few eyebrows after a successful campaign as the Northern Irish secretary of state and remains unknown how this may affect ties between the main Northern Irish political parties.