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National
Sam Volpe

PM Liz Truss reveals her cabinet: Top jobs for Kwarteng and Coffey, while a new man gets the job of Levelling Up

Liz Truss has confirmed senior cabinet jobs for allies including Kwasi Kwarteng, Therese Coffey and James Cleverley as she appointed her top team at the end of her first full day as Prime Minister.

The new PM has confirmed her long-time friend Ms Coffey will serve as deputy Prime Minister along with taking on the job of Health Secretary. Ms Coffey was previously in charge of the Department of Work and Pensions. Mr Kwarteng, another support of the new PM, has also bagged a plum job - he will be the new Chancellor.

The former Business Secretary inherits an economy forecasted to plunge into a recession – longer than the one seen during the financial crisis – with inflation set to hits eye-watering levels. The new Foreign Secretary is Mr Cleverley with Suella Braverman - herself a former leadership contender - taking over as Home Secretary.

Read More: Liz Truss pledges to 'deliver, deliver, deliver' as she succeeds Boris Johnson as Prime Minister

Of interest to the North East will be the news that Simon Clarke has been appointed as the new Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary. He replaces Greg Clark.

Late on Tuesday evening, Berwick MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan was also seen entering Downing Street. She has been confirmed as the future Transport Secretary, which could be relevant given Government promises to finally complete the dualling of the A1.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan outside No. 10 Downing Street - she is the new Transport Secretary (Getty Images)

Meanwhile a number of Rishi Sunak's supporters have been sacked. Figures including former deputy PM Dominic Raab, Grant Shapps, George Eustice and Steve Barclay will all be facing up to a future on the backbenches after backing former Chancellor Mr Sunak for the top job.

One of the only high-profile figures to stay in the same job across the transition is Ben Wallace, who will remain Defence Secretary.

Further down the cabinet table, Brandon Lewis becomes Justice Secretary and Wendy Morton becomes the Government's Chief Whip. Nadhim Zahawi, who has served as Chancellor this summer, has been appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, minister for intergovernmental relations and minister for equalities.

Kemi Badenoch will be International Trade Secretary, and Jacob Rees-Mogg will be Business Secretary. Penny Mordaunt moving to be Leader of the House of Commons. The new Work and Pensions Secretary is Chloe Smith. Kit Malthouse becomes Education Secretary.

Ranil Jayawardena will be Secretary of State at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. A range of lesser posts remained to be filled late in to Tuesday evening.

The reshuffle came after Ms Truss used a speech in Downing Street to lay out early priorities. As well as dealing with the energy crisis, she said she would look to enact “a bold plan to grow the economy through tax cuts and reform” and “get Britain working again”.

She also promised to “put our health service on a firm footing” so “people can get doctor’s appointments and the NHS services they need”.

After the downpour which preceded her speech, Ms Truss said: “We shouldn’t be daunted by the challenges we face. As strong as the storm may be, I know that the British people are stronger.

"Our country was built by people who get things done. We have huge reserves of talent, of energy and determination."

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