Boris Johnson eyes mini-reshuffle next week ahead of larger overhaul in February 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is planning a radical reshuffle of his top team after he secures Brexit.

Sources said Mr Johnson would conduct a mini-reshuffle on Monday to fill at least two vacant posts, which would pave the way for a bigger shake-up in early February.

‘We will have one Cabinet to Get Brexit Done and another to change the country,’ the senior source said.

Cabinet minister Michael Gove (pictured) told ITV: ‘I hope that if the Conservatives do form a majority we can get the Brexit Bill through and then we can begin the process of healing and rebuilding the country’

Cabinet minister Michael Gove told ITV: ‘I hope that if the Conservatives do form a majority we can get the Brexit Bill through and then we can begin the process of healing and rebuilding the country.’

He said the Government would ‘honour the democratic mandate’ but also ‘invest particularly in those areas in the North and in the Midlands that feel they have been overlooked and undervalued’.

Mr Johnson will also have greater scope to negotiate the trade deal that he wants with the EU.

His control over the Commons means he does not have to worry about rebellions.

The Tory manifesto committed to ending the ‘transition’ phase of Brexit by the end of next year, but the EU has argued a trade deal will take many years to negotiate.

Mr Johnson will be expected to pursue a shake-up of Whitehall departments and the Civil Service, a pet project of his senior advisor Dominic Cummings.

Former Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan stood down at the election, leaving the post vacant, while ex-Welsh Secretary Alan Cairns resigned in the first week of the campaign over claims he knew about a former aide’s role in the ‘sabotage’ of a rape trial

Former Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan stood down at the election, leaving the post vacant, while ex-Welsh Secretary Alan Cairns resigned in the first week of the campaign over claims he knew about a former aide’s role in the ‘sabotage’ of a rape trial

MPs could be forced to come in next Saturday for a day of debate to ensure the Withdrawal Bill – which contains Mr Johnson’s deal – makes progress through the Commons before Christmas.

New MPs will arrive in the Commons on Tuesday for the first sitting day and it will take several days to swear them all in.

The PM will then present his Queen’s Speech to the Commons on Thursday, the centrepiece of which will be his Withdrawal Bill.

It will also contain legislation to ensure serious criminals serve longer behind bars, and to restrict the impact strikes can have on essential services such as health and transport.

Officials are also discussing moving quickly with plans to decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee, which funds the BBC. They believe such cases clog up the courts and should be dealt with by fines. Once the Withdrawal Bill is passed, the UK would leave the EU in seven weeks.

At least two Cabinet posts will be filled in the next 24 hours.

Former Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan stood down at the election, leaving the post vacant, while ex-Welsh Secretary Alan Cairns resigned in the first week of the campaign over claims he knew about a former aide’s role in the ‘sabotage’ of a rape trial.

Among those tipped to return to government are Penny Mordaunt (left), who was defence secretary under Theresa May but was sacked by Mr Johnson when he selected his first Cabinet. Simon Hart, (right) the popular but little-known Cabinet Office minister, is among those tipped to replace Mr Cairns

Among those tipped to return to government are Penny Mordaunt (left), who was defence secretary under Theresa May but was sacked by Mr Johnson when he selected his first Cabinet. Simon Hart, (right) the popular but little-known Cabinet Office minister, is among those tipped to replace Mr Cairns

Among those tipped to return to government are Penny Mordaunt (left), who was defence secretary under Theresa May but was sacked by Mr Johnson when he selected his first Cabinet. Simon Hart, (right) the popular but little-known Cabinet Office minister, is among those tipped to replace Mr Cairns

Among those tipped to return to government are Penny Mordaunt, who was defence secretary under Theresa May but was sacked by Mr Johnson when he selected his first Cabinet. Simon Hart, the popular but little-known Cabinet Office minister, is among those tipped to replace Mr Cairns.

Last night Home Secretary Priti Patel said the Government will move quickly to ‘get Brexit done’. ‘Importantly, as we have outlined throughout this entire campaign, the focus has been on Brexit,’ she told the BBC.

‘You know, we’ve had gridlock in Parliament, we want to get Brexit done, we have heard the Prime Minister say this. Get it done before Christmas, introduce the legislation and get that moving in Parliament.’

Mr Johnson’s advisers have also discussed scrapping the Department for International Development, which is responsible for handing out £14billion of foreign aid. Its function would be merged with those of the Foreign Office.

Rishi Sunak, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, is also tipped for promotion. In a highly presidential campaign dominated by Mr Johnson, he has been one of only a few Tories to have had significant airtime, and twice deputised for the Prime Minister in debate

Rishi Sunak, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, is also tipped for promotion. In a highly presidential campaign dominated by Mr Johnson, he has been one of only a few Tories to have had significant airtime, and twice deputised for the Prime Minister in debate

One change seen as inevitable is the merging of the Brexit Department into the Department for International Trade – to mirror the shift in focus towards securing deals with non-EU countries.

Mr Gove, who is Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has been tipped to take on the trade job when Mr Johnson conducts a bigger reshuffle.

He has played a significant role in the campaign, unlike current Trade Secretary Liz Truss.

Rishi Sunak, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, is also tipped for promotion. In a highly presidential campaign dominated by Mr Johnson, he has been one of only a few Tories to have had significant airtime, and twice deputised for the Prime Minister in debates.

 

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