Rishi Sunak Cabinet reshuffle: Prime Minister appoints new look top team in bid to dramatically transform polls

Rishi Sunak Cabinet reshuffle: Prime Minister appoints new look top team in bid to dramatically transform polls
CABINET RESHUFFLE
Dan Falvey

By Dan Falvey


Published: 07/02/2023

- 10:42

Updated: 07/02/2023

- 12:25

Today's reshuffle will be Britain's fifth new-look Cabinet in under 12 months

Rishi Sunak has created a new Government department dedicated to the transition to net zero as part of a shake up of his top team.

In a move which officials say will help Britain "seize the opportunities of net zero", energy has been moved out of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.


The Prime Minister undertook a Cabinet reshuffle this morning as he sought to bolster the Conservative Party's polling.

He used the need to replace Nadhim Zahawi as party chairman as an excuse for a wider shake up of his Government.

Rishi Sunak has reshuffled his Cabinet in a bid to transform his party's standing in the polls
Rishi Sunak has reshuffled his Cabinet in a bid to transform his party's standing in the polls
Jordan Pettitt

Zahawi was sacked from his position after an independent investigation found he had breached the ministerial code by failing to declare a HMRC investigation into his tax affairs.

The changes see Greg Hands appointed as party chairman, and the restructure of multiple Government departments.

Sunak has merged the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for International Trade and created new science and digital department.

Meanwhile, culture and sport now sits in its own separate unit.

At the same time, the energy has been moved out of the business department to create the new department of Energy Security and Net Zero. Grant Shapps will oversee the new energy grouping.

Government officials say the new department "recognises the significant impact rising prices have had on households across the country as a result of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine, and the need to secure more energy from domestic nuclear and renewable sources as we seize the opportunities of net zero".

Michelle Donelan takes on the newly formed role of Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology; Kemi Badenoch is Secretary of State for Business and Trade; and Lucy Frazer KC is Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport.

Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary Grant Shapps leaving Downing Street, London, after a Cabinet meeting. Picture date: Tuesday January 17, 2023.
Grant Shapps will oversee the new department
Kirsty O'Connor

Today's reshuffle is Britain's fifth new-look Cabinet in under 12 months.

It also takes place just 105 days since Sunak first appointed his top team of ministers after taking over as Prime Minister from Liz Truss.

The Prime Minister's bid to improve his party's standing among the public comes as the Tories are polling at historic lows and is well adrift of the opposition Labour Party.

Labour currently has a 24 point lead over the Government with a general election just over a year away.

People Polling for GB News released on February 2 put Labour on 46 per cent of the national vote while the Conservative Party was on 22 per cent.

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