Limited reshuffle points to Theresa May's lack of authority
Few Cabinet changes were made by the Prime Minister - reflecting the fact that she now lacks the authority to sack colleagues.
Monday 12 June 2017 09:28, UK
A dramatic and unexpected return to the Cabinet for Michael Gove was one of very few changes in a limited post-election reshuffle by Theresa May.
In further confirmation of the Prime Minister's weakness, there were no sackings, only five new appointments and most members of the Cabinet stayed in the same job.
Brexiteer Mr Gove becomes Environment Secretary and will have to deal with farming and fisheries as well as coping with flood disasters and implementing Tory policy to bring back fox hunting.
Formerly a Cabinet minister under David Cameron, he admitted to Sky News he had not expected a recall and was surprised to receive a phone call from Number 10 in his Surrey constituency.
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Under Mr Cameron, Mr Gove was a reforming Education Secretary until he was demoted to Chief Whip after clashing with the education establishment, then elevated to Justice Secretary.
But his return comes less than a year after Mrs May brutally sacked him from the Cabinet when she became PM, famously telling him: "Go and learn about loyalty on the back benches."
That followed accusations that Mr Gove ruthlessly stabbed his former ally Boris Johnson in the back by entering the Tory leadership race - a move that prompted Mr Johnson to abandon his bid.
The other major reshuffle move sees the PM again bow to demands to change her leadership style by appointing her close ally Damian Green as her deputy prime minister in all but name.
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Previously Work and Pensions Secretary, Mr Green is promoted to First Secretary of State and will also be minister for the Cabinet Office, replacing Ben Gummer who lost his seat in the election.
David Gauke, promoted from Treasury Chief Secretary to replace Mr Green at the DWP, and David Lidington, who moves from Commons Leader to Justice Secretary, are the other big winners.
The former Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom, another Brexiteer, moves to Commons leader and will now have the tough job of steering legislation on leaving the EU through Parliament.
Previously tipped for the sack in the reshuffle, Ms Leadsom appeared relieved to have stayed in the Cabinet as she left Number 10, giving a big thumbs up and a beaming smile.
The one big loser is Liz Truss, who after rows with senior members of the judiciary over the Brexit Article 50 litigation is demoted from Justice Secretary to Mr Gauke's old job of Treasury number two.
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Speaking after completing her reshuffle, the PM said: "What I've done today is seen people from across the party accepting the invitation to be in my Cabinet and crucially I have brought in talent from across the whole of the Conservative Party.
"I said during the election campaign that if re-elected I would intend to serve a full term. But what I'm doing now is actually getting on with the immediate job. But I think that's what's important... I think that's what the public would expect."
Despite their rancorous split last year, Mr Johnson immediately welcomed Mr Gove's return to the Cabinet, tweeting: "It's a GOVErnment of all the talents. Welcome back to Michael!"
Mr Green's promotion is the PM's second move in response to demands from Cabinet colleagues to consult ministers and backbenchers more widely on policy and Government strategy.
It follows the abrupt departure from Number 10 of her two joint chiefs of staff, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, who were accused of bullying ministers and were dubbed the "gruesome twosome".
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The rest of the Cabinet stay in the posts they have held since Mrs May became Prime Minister last year, reflecting the fact that the Prime Minister now lacks the authority to sack colleagues.
Some Tories will feel that Sir Patrick McLoughlin is fortunate to keep his job as Tory chairman, after criticism of the party's election campaign and the loss of the Government's Commons majority.
There had also been speculation that Jeremy Hunt might be moved from Health Secretary after his bruising clashes with junior doctors and other NHS staff - but he stays in the same job.
There are no promotions to the Cabinet for middle-ranking ministers, though the police minister Brandon Lewis - tipped as a future party chairman - is to attend Cabinet meetings from now on.