Who could be in Rishi Sunak’s cabinet?

Rishi Sunak is set to become prime minister. His first task will be to appoint a new cabinet.

It will not be an easy job following the past few months of infighting during Boris Johnson’s premiership, then the brutal summer Tory leadership campaign, followed by MPs in the past few days coming out in favour of Mr Johnson before switching allegiance when he dropped out.

Rishi Sunak to be PM after Penny Mordaunt drops out – follow live updates

Sky News looks at the possible candidates for the major cabinet positions.

Chancellor

Jeremy Hunt

The current chancellor could keep his job under Mr Sunak, having reversed the majority of Liz Truss’s mini-budget – policies Mr Sunak warned would be detrimental to the economy.

Seen as a steady hand, keeping Mr Hunt could be an attempt to keep the markets calm.

However, Mr Sunak made no promises to keep Mr Hunt as his right-hand man. Penny Mordaunt did.

Sajid Javid

It was Sajid Javid who quit Boris Johnson’s cabinet just minutes before Mr Sunak earlier this year, which led to many more resignations and ultimately Mr Johnson’s downfall.

He was also Mr Sunak’s predecessor as chancellor, and was Mr Sunak’s boss in the Treasury, so has the experience the new PM would be looking for.

Mr Javid did support Ms Truss in the last leadership campaign and implied Mr Sunak was “sleepwalking” the UK “into a big-state, high-tax, low-growth, social democratic model”.

However, having him on board could be seen as a way of reaching out across the party.

Kemi Badenoch

Former leadership rival and cabinet colleague Kemi Badenoch threw her weight behind Mr Sunak on Sunday.

Seen as a rising star on the right of the Conservative Party, appointing the former banker and exchequer secretary to the Treasury would appease those on the right.

Mel Stride

A very loyal Sunak supporter, who ran his leadership campaign both times, Mel Stride could be rewarded with a cabinet position.

If not chancellor, then he could get a top job in the Treasury such as chief secretary to the Treasury, or he could get his old job under Theresa May back – financial secretary to the Treasury.

Foreign Secretary

Penny Mordaunt

Mr Sunak could give his leadership rival one of the great positions of state in a show of unity following months of divisive politics within the Conservative Party.

Penny Mordaunt, a Navy reservist, served as international development secretary and defence secretary under former PM Theresa May so has the right CV to be foreign secretary.

Tom Tugendhat

Another former leadership rival, Tom Tugendhat was chair of the powerful Foreign Affairs Select Committee for five years until last month, when he was made security minister by Ms Truss.

He also served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Territorial Army and helped set up the National Security Council of Afghanistan for the Foreign Office before becoming an MP.

Strong on foreign policy, he is seen as a competent pair of hands to take on the foreign secretary role from James Cleverly.

James Cleverly

Despite initially coming out in support of Mr Johnson, the current foreign secretary could remain in place under Mr Sunak.

Keeping him in post would help with continuity in an area where it is needed, given the Ukraine War and increasing threat from China.

His experience as minister for the Middle East, North Africa and North America, followed by minister for Europe and North America means he is a steady hand.

Home Secretary

Grant Shapps

Mr Sunak could keep the current home secretary in post as a reward for his loyal support during the last two leadership races.

Grant Shapps replaced Suella Braverman as home secretary just last week after Ms Truss brought him in to steady the ship despite criticising her plan to cut the top rate of income tax.

An experienced cabinet member, keeping him as home secretary could be another attempt at maintaining continuity.

Sajid Javid

The former cabinet minister and close friend of Mr Sunak could take up his role as home secretary yet again, having previously served briefly under Ms May.

Suella Braverman

An unlikely candidate after she quit as home secretary last week, but Mr Sunak could bring Ms Braverman back in after she publicly supported him.

Deputy PM

Oliver Dowden

The former co-chairman of the Conservative Party and one of Mr Sunak’s closest friends in politics has been helping run Mr Sunak’s campaign so could be well-rewarded with a spot next to Mr Sunak.

He is popular among MPs and also has cabinet experience so could be seen as good support for Mr Sunak.

Before becoming an MP he was David Cameron’s chief of staff so is well-versed in gathering support from across the party.

Dominic Raab

A strong backer of Mr Sunak, Mr Raab came out early in support of the former chancellor and has defended him over the summer against accusations Mr Sunak betrayed Mr Johnson.

He could well be rewarded by taking back his job as deputy PM, which he held under Mr Johnson.

Jeremy Hunt

If he does not stay as chancellor, Mr Sunak could make Mr Hunt his deputy PM as a reward for supporting him.

The pair have similar views on the economy so he would be seen as a good person to help steer the party.

Defence Secretary

Ben Wallace

One of the few cabinet secretaries to keep their job during both Mr Johnson and Ms Truss’s premierships, Ben Wallace is seen as key to helping the situation in Ukraine.

Mr Sunak will likely want to keep the former Army captain as defence secretary, however the new PM did not commit to spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2030.

Mr Wallace had said that was a red line for him so if Mr Sunak fails to commit to that now, Mr Wallace could quit.

Penny Mordaunt

In an attempt to show unity and stability across government, Mr Sunak could make his leadership rival defence secretary.

The Navy reservist was briefly defence secretary during Mr Johnson’s interim government so would be taking her old job back.

Theresa May

Giving the former PM an important cabinet role could be a show of unity across all parts of the party.

One of the most experienced MPs in government, Ms May would be seen as a strong hand to steer the ship on Ukraine and China.

Levelling Up Secretary

Michael Gove

On the back benches for the first time in a very long while, the Tory grandee said he will be standing down at the next election.

But if offered his old job back after being fired by Mr Johnson, it is unlikely he would turn it down.

Giving Mr Gove the job would be tactical as he has not been shy in criticising the government from the backbenches.

Kemi Badenoch

Handing Ms Badenoch the levelling up brief would bring Mr Sunak kudos from the right of the party.

Her popularity would come in handy as the job is wide-ranging and can be controversial.