Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Politics
Helen Sullivan

‘Boris wields the axe’: what the UK papers say about Johnson’s ruthless reshuffle

UK front pages on Thursday detailing Boris Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle.
UK front pages on Thursday detailing Boris Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle. Composite: Supplied

The Boris Johnson’s ruthless reshuffle, which has been compared to Margaret Thatcher’s 1981 “purge of the wets” – appears across Thursday morning’s front pages.

The Guardian headline reads “PM’s ruthless reshuffle lays ground for next election”, and details how education secretary Gavin Williamson and foreign secretary Dominic Raab were the highest-profile victims.

It says Williamson had been widely expected to be offered an alternative role but was instead dispatched straight to the backbenches. Raab who moves to justice, has been replaced by Liz Truss, champion of free markets. Michael Gove emerged as housing and local government chief where he will take the key job of making “levelling up” a reality for sceptical voters.

The Daily Telegraph goes to the point “Raab and Gove lose out as Truss promoted”. It reports that the reshuffle was “more extensive than expected”. “Mrs Truss’s promotion, becoming the Tories’ first female foreign secretary, leaves her well positioned should she one day seek the leadership,” the paper reports.

The Times’ headline is “Johnson wields axe in cabinet reshuffle” in what it calls “an attempt to refocus his premiership beyond the pandemic”. It reports that “unlike most ministers in the reshuffle Gove was sounded out first by Johnson about his new role”.

The FT’s take is that the reshuffle was to “revive faith in reform agenda” and “revive Britain’s standing on the world stage”.

The Daily Mail had apparently been hoping for this for some time. Its headline is “At last, Boris wields the axe”. It brands Dorries and Truss the “new queens of the jungle” and calls the reshuffle “brutal”. It describes Raab’s removal as a “humiliating demotion” and says he was “savaged”.

The i’s headline is “Johnson sacks blundering Cabinet allies”. It reports that an “angry” Raab refused to accept demotion until Johnson threw in the title of deputy prime minister as well.

The Daily Express is characteristically subtle, with “PM’s ruthless cull to deliver Britain’s future”. Its strapline above the main headline reads: “In his biggest shake-up yet Boris vows to ‘unite and level up the whole country’”.

In Scotland, The National describes Johnson as using the reshuffle to “demote key figures and ‘reward failure’” – the SNP’s words.

The Daily Mirror’s front page is focused on climate change, with a small spot for Johnson’s “Cabinet clear-out”.

Metro says it is “time to go away and shut up… or take a foreign holiday”.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Why You Should Stop Buying Pre-Shredded Cheese
We have all grabbed that bag of shredded cheddar for convenience on taco night. It saves us the time and effort of getting out the grater and cleaning it later. However, that convenience comes with hidden costs that affect both your wallet and your cooking. Once you switch back to…
Grocery Coupon Guide
Grocery Coupon Guide
Did Halle Berry Keep Her Famous Orange Bond Bikini? A Fan Needed To Know
Hard to believe her Bond movie is over 20 years old.
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
New York woman is excited to walk into Amex airport lounge for the first time—until some men start making fun of her: ‘I already was so insecure’
A New York influencer celebrates getting her first American Express Platinum card by checking out one of the credit card’s exclusive airport lounges. A group of men make a rude comment about her appearance that ruins her mood. She gets her revenge after another member recognizes her.
The Mary Sue
The Mary Sue
Menstrual pads and tampons can contain toxic substances – here’s what to know about this emerging health issue
About half of the global population menstruates at some point in their lives. Disposable products, such as tampons and pads, are some of the most popular products used around the globe to manage menstrual flow.
The Conversation
The Conversation
‘It’s not your house’: Homeowner floored after finding TikTok scammer trying to rent out the condo she owns
She found a video of her own home up for rent on TikTok.
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
“You have to go to a clinic”: Clavicular’s candid remarks about intimacy spark debate and laughter across the internet
Clavicular went viral after joking about intimacy during a podcast appearance, turning an awkward question into a widely shared clip. His humor sparked debate over authenticity, shock value, and internet fame. The streamer also dismissed viral slang tied to his name, calling it meaningless social media noise, while his mix…
The Times of India
The Times of India
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play