The Education Secretary Gavin Williamson was the first to lose his job as Boris Johnson reshuffled his Cabinet on Wednesday afternoon.
Boris Johnson is carrying out a Cabinet reshuffle to appoint a “strong and united” team
Mr Williamson tweeted: “It has been a privilege to serve as Education Secretary since 2019.
“Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, I’m particularly proud of the transformational reforms I’ve led in Post 16 education: in further education colleges, our Skills agenda, apprenticeships and more.
“This programme will create better life opportunities for pupils and students for many years to come. I look forward to continuing to support the Prime Minster and the government.”
A shake-up of the Prime Minister’s top team haf been long expected in Westminster.
Mr Williamson had come in for criticism over his handling of his departmental responsibilities during the coronavirus pandemic.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Ms Patel were sat to Mr Johnson’s left and Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg to his right – with other heavy hitters in the Cabinet not seen in the chamber.
Cabinet-level changes are expected to take place on Wednesday, but the shake-up of more junior ministerial ranks will continue on Thursday.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Boris Johnson “understood the importance of having a diverse Cabinet” but would not guarantee that female representation around the table would be maintained at least at its current level following the reshuffle.
Mr Johnson’s former aide Dominic Cummings has branded the shake-up the “Carrie reshuffle”, suggesting that Mrs Johnson’s allies would be rewarded.
But asked if the Prime Minister’s wife had been consulted on the reshuffle, the official Downing Street spokesman said: “No.”
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