Liz Truss’s hopes of uniting her party after a fractious leadership contest were put at risk after she conducted a brutal cabinet clearout of supporters of rival Rishi Sunak in her first hours as prime minister.
Liz Truss’s hopes of uniting her party after a fractious leadership contest were put at risk after she conducted a brutal cabinet clearout of supporters of rival Rishi Sunak in her first hours as prime minister.
The new PM constructed a top team of close allies, including Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor and James Cleverly as foreign secretary, with hardline right-winger Suella Braverman – a supporter of the UK’s exit from the European Court of Human Rights – becoming home secretary and Therese Coffey appointed the UK’s first female deputy prime minister as well as taking the health brief.
Jacob Rees-Mogg was made business secretary after taking part in talks with energy companies on a package of measures to tackle the cost of living crisis, due to be unveiled tomorrow and expected to include a £2,500 price freeze for households costing £90bn (€105bn), as well as additional help for businesses.
Chris Heaton-Harris, the outgoing chief whip, is the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
One former minister spoke of fears that Ms Truss was creating a “cabinet of cronies”, putting personal loyalty to her over the competence needed at a time of virtually unprecedented crisis.
