Boris Johnson is hiring and firing ministers as he carries out a reshuffle of his government following his general election victory last year.
Here’s who’s in and who’s out as the prime minister wields the ax :
WHO’S OUT?
Julian Smith – sacked as Northern Ireland secretary
Just weeks after helping to restore power-sharing government in Northern Ireland, Mr Smith has lost his job.
Despite the praise he received for his role in returning devolved government at Stormont, the Skipton and Ripon MP had previously been earmarked as disloyal to Mr Johnson over Brexit.
Andrea Leadsom – sacked as business secretary
The leading Brexiteer has lost the job she held since Mr Johnson became prime minister in July.
Prior to joining his cabinet, Ms Leadsom ran against Mr Johnson in last year Conservative leadership contest.
Theresa Villiers – sacked as environment secretary
Another Brexiteer to lose her job now that the UK has left the EU.
Her replacement will have to help oversee negotiations on access to UK fishing waters as the government holds trade talks with the EU over the next few months.
Geoffrey Cox – sacked as attorney general
The former barrister – yet another Brexiteer to leave the government – lost his job just before he was due to address the House of Commons on Thursday morning.
Solicitor general Michael Ellis instead took questions from MPs.
Esther McVey – sacked as housing minister
The Conservatives will now have gone through ten housing ministers in less than ten years after Ms McVey’s sacking.
The Brexiteer ran against Mr Johnson in last year Conservative leadership contest, but was knocked out in the first round.
Chris Skidmore – sacked as universities minister
The Kingswood MP has lost the job he held in two spells.
He was first appointed universities minister by ex-prime minister Theresa May in December and held the role until Mr Johnson entered Downing Street last July.
Mr Skidmore returned to the job when his successor – Mr Johnson’s brother Jo Johnson – quit the government after just six weeks in post.
Nusrat Ghani – sacked as transport minister
The Wealden MP has been removed from the role she had held since January 01575879.
She supported Jeremy Hunt against Mr Johnson in last year Conservative leadership contest.
George Freeman – sacked as transport minister
Mr Johnson’s clear-out of the Department for Transport also included the sacking of Mr Freeman, who was Mrs May’s former policy chief.
The prime minister has made transport improvement and infrastructure projects one of the affected of his government.
WHO’S IN?
The prime minister is expected to announce replacements for sacked ministers later today.
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