Northumberland MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan promoted to…

Northumberland MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan promoted to International Development Secretary

Northumberland MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan received a major promotion as Boris Johnson made her International Development Secretary in his Cabinet reshuffle.

It means the North East has a place at the Cabinet table for the first time since the Conservatives came to power in 2010.

Mrs Trevelyan is a firm supporter of Brexit, and backed Mr Johnson in his campaign to become Conservative leader. She has also campaigned for better treatment for the armed forces and their personnel, both as a backbench MP and in her previous role as a defence minister.

Ms Trevelyan was appointed as a junior defence minister in July last year and became a Minister of State - a more senior role, but still below Cabinet level - in December last year.

Now she has replaced Alok Sharma as International Development Secretary. Mr Sharma was moved to the role of Business Secretary.

Shock as former Chancellor Sajid Javid resigns

Sajid Javid walked out of Boris Johnson's government by resigning as Chancellor.

The shock resignation came as Mr Johnson attempted to carry out his first big reshuffle since his victory in December's general election.

Mr Javid was replaced by Rishi Sunak, the MP for Richmond in Yorkshire, who had previously been Chief Secretary to the Treasury and is now the new Chancellor.

It apparently followed a row between the two men over Mr Javid's "special advisers", his personal advisers whose duties include dealing with the media.

Rumours at Westminster suggested Mr Javid had refused demands to sack two advisers, known as SPADs.

Mr Javid said that "no self-respecting minister" could accept the condition being imposed, PA news agency reports.

"He has turned down the job of Chancellor of the Exchequer," a source close to Mr Javid said.

"The Prime Minister said he had to fire all his special advisers and replace them with Number 10 special advisers to make it one team.

"The Chancellor said no self-respecting minister would accept those terms."

Full details of the row are unlikely ever to be officially released, but are nonetheless likely to leak out over the next few hours or days. Particular attention will be paid to the role played by Mr Johnson's adviser, Dominic Cummings.

It appears Number 10 wanted to create a joint SPAD unit, bringing together advisers working for the Chancellor and the Prime Minister, but this would have meant Mr Javid had to sack two of his current SPADS.

Mr Javid, MP for Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, who had previously been Home Secretary, was due to deliver a Budget on March 11.