Home Secretary Priti Patel will reportedly take on the security minister’s responsibilities permanently following James Brokenshire’s departure from the portfolio last month.
Tory MP Mr Brokenshire announced his resignation on July 7, telling Boris Johnson that his recovery from lung cancer treatment was “taking longer than anticipated” following a resurgence of the illness he was first diagnosed with two years ago.
The Times and The Daily Telegraph reported on Friday that Ms Patel would take over his vacated brief permanently after covering the role for more than a month.
It follows Labour’s claim the arrest of a British man in Berlin on suspicion of spying for Russia earlier this week raised “questions” about the Prime Minister’s failure to fill the post.
Shadow security minister Conor McGinn had said it “beggars belief” that the role had yet to be filled five weeks on.
A Home Office spokeswoman said on Wednesday: “The Home Secretary is responsible for all areas of Home Office business, including those related to national security.”
