Boris Johnson plans new Whitehall department to spearhead Britain’s battle against climate change as part of post-election Government shake-up
- Boris Johnson to make a climate change department and have a limited reshuffle
- Michael Gove could be installed as the head of a new trade ‘super-department’
- A wider department reshuffle is expected after Britain leaves the EU next month
Boris Johnson is to create a new Whitehall department to tackle climate change as part of his post-election shake-up.
He will reverse Theresa May’s 2016 decision to fold the Department for Energy and Climate Change into the Department for Business after vowing to make Britain the ‘greenest country on Earth’.
The Prime Minister will carry out a limited reshuffle today to fill gaps left by the election.
Mr Johnson promised ‘colossal new investments in infrastructure, in science, using our incredible technological advantages to make this country the cleanest, greenest on Earth with the most far-reaching environmental programme’
The new Government lacks a Culture Secretary after Nicky Morgan decided not to stand, and a Welsh Secretary following the departure of Alun Cairns. Environment minister Zac Goldsmith lost his seat and must be replaced.
A wider reshuffle, involving the scrapping or merging of some departments, is expected after Britain leaves the EU next month.
Michael Gove could be installed as the head of a new trade ‘super-department’ to oversee Britain’s future relationship with the EU.
It would incorporate the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for International Trade and the Department for Exiting the EU.
Ministers tipped for promotion include Sajid Javid’s deputy at the Treasury, Rishi Sunak, pictured above. But Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace are under pressure
Mr Johnson could also axe the Department for International Development and hand control of Britain’s £14billion aid budget to a beefed up Foreign Office.
The plan to create a new department to tackle climate change comes after Mr Johnson pledged to make the country carbon neutral by 2050.
He promised ‘colossal new investments in infrastructure, in science, using our incredible technological advantages to make this country the cleanest, greenest on Earth with the most far-reaching environmental programme’.
Ministers tipped for promotion include Sajid Javid’s deputy at the Treasury, Rishi Sunak.
But Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace are under pressure. Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg may get a lesser role.