Who could be in Rishi Sunak’s cabinet?

Published

3 years ago

October 24, 2022

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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.

World

UK joins NATO operation to bolster Europe’s eastern flank after Russian drone incursions into Poland

Published

12 hours ago

September 12, 2025

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UK joins NATO operation to bolster Europe's eastern flank after Russian drone incursions into Poland

NATO is to bolster Europe’s eastern flank, including the use of UK military resources, after Russia’s “reckless and unacceptable” violation of Polish airspace.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced operation ‘Eastern Sentry’ on Friday, involving the deployment of equipment on the border with Belarus, Russia and Ukraine to deter potential Russian aggression.

Poland shot down Russian drones which flew over the country on Wednesday, something the military alliance has portrayed as an attempt by Moscow to test NATO’s military response.

It underlines long-held concerns about the potential expansion of Russia’s three-year war in Ukraine.

Russia said its drones went astray because they were jammed, but European leaders believe the incursions were a deliberate provocation by Russia.

“It’s reckless and unacceptable. We can’t have Russian drones entering allied airspace,” Mr Rutte told a news conference.

He added that allies, including the UK, France, Germany and Denmark, have so far committed to the mission with others set to join.

In a statement, the UK’s Ministry of Defence said: “The UK is fully committed to playing our part in NATO’s Eastern Sentry following the reckless and dangerous airspace violations by Russia”. It added that the details of the UK’s contribution would be announced soon.

Yvette Cooper visited Ukraine on Friday, her first visit to the country since becoming foreign secretary after a cabinet shake-up by Sir Keir Starmer.

Ms Cooper described her trip, which included a meeting with the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as a demonstration of solidarity with Ukraine.

“The UK will not stand idly by as Putin continues his barbaric invasion of Ukraine,” Ms Cooper said, noting what she said was the Russian president’s “complete disregard for sovereignty” by sending drones into NATO airspace.

Prince Harry also made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Friday, where he met with wounded service members.

NATO already has substantial forces in eastern Europe, including thousands of troops, but the alliance did not explain how many additional forces would be involved in the new operation.

Speaking at the alliance’s Brussels headquarters, US General Alexus Grynkewich told reporters the additional resources will enable the alliance to “plug gaps in the line” and concentrate forces wherever they’re needed while improving communications across NATO’s entire eastern flank.

NATO detailed a modest number of additional military assets – including two F-16 fighter jets and a frigate from Denmark, three Rafale fighter jets from France and four Eurofighter jets from Germany.

The announcement also coincided with a joint military exercise involving thousands of Russian and Belarusian troops, which began on Friday.

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Meanwhile, new measures were announced by the UK against Russia on Friday.

They included bans on 70 vessels the UK says are part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” that transports Russian oil in defiance of sanctions.

Some 30 individuals and companies – including Chinese and Turkey-based firms – were also sanctioned for their part in supplying Russia with electronics, chemicals, explosives and other weapons components.

Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, dismissed Donald Trump’s suggestion that the drone incursion into Poland may have been “a mistake”.

“We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake,” Mr Tusk wrote on X. “But it wasn’t. And we know it.”

US-led efforts to steer Moscow and Kyiv toward a peace settlement have so far failed to progress.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said talks to end the war were currently on “pause” even though channels of communication remain open.

World

Russia-Belarus drills begin as tensions high after drone incursion in Poland

Published

18 hours ago

September 12, 2025

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Russia-Belarus drills begin as tensions high after drone incursion in Poland

Thousands of troops are taking part in a joint military exercise between Russia and Belarus, as tensions with the EU run high following a Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace earlier this week.

The Zapad joint military exercise which began on Friday will involve drills in both Russia and Belarus as well as in the Baltic and Barents seas, the Russian defence ministry said.

Belarusian defence officials initially said about 13,000 troops would participate in the drill, but in May, its defence ministry said that would be cut nearly in half.

It comes just two days after Poland, with support from its NATO allies, shot down Russian drones over its airspace.

Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Friday morning hit back at a suggestion by US President Donald Trump on Thursday that the incursion may have been a “mistake”.

He said in a post on X: “We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn’t. And we know it.”

Russia said its forces had been attacking Ukraine at the time of the incursions and that it had not intended to hit any targets in Poland.

Friday also saw Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper travelling to Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv on the same day the UK announced fresh sanctions against Moscow.

Prince Harry was also in Kyiv for a surprise visit to help with the recovery of military personnel seriously injured in the three-year war with Russia.

Ms Cooper, who was appointed foreign secretary last week, posted about her visit on X saying: “The UK’s support for Ukraine is steadfast. I am pleased to be in Kyiv on my first visit as Foreign Secretary.”

The UK’s new sanctions include bans on 70 vessels that Britain says are part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” that transports Russian oil in defiance of sanctions already in place.

Some 30 individuals and companies – including Chinese and Turkey-based firms – have also been sanctioned for their part in supplying Russia with electronics, chemicals, explosives and other weapons components.

Meanwhile on the frontline, Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s oil-loading Primorsk port overnight, an SBU official said.

The attack caused fires and suspended oil-loading operations, the official added.

Russian defence systems also intercepted and destroyed 221 Ukrainian drones overnight.

World

Prince Harry makes surprise visit to Ukraine

Published

1 day ago

September 12, 2025

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Prince Harry makes surprise visit to Ukraine

Prince Harry has made a surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, a spokesperson for the royal has said.

Harry, who served 10 years in the British Army, visited the city at the invitation of the Ukrainian government.

The Duke of Sussex travelled to the capital to help with the recovery of military personnel seriously injured in the three-year war with Russia.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will also be travelling to Kyiv on Friday in what will be her first foreign trip since being appointed to the job last week.

Her visit coincides with the UK launching a new package of Russia-related sanctions targeting ships carrying Russian oil as well as companies and individuals supplying electronics, chemicals and explosives used to make Russian weapons.

It comes as Russia and Belarus began a major joint military exercise on on NATO’s doorstep on Friday, just two days after Poland, with support from its NATO allies, shot down suspected Russian drones over its airspace.

The Zapad-2025 exercise – a show of force by Russia and its close ally – will involve drills in both countries and in the Baltic and Barents seas, the Russian defence ministry said.

Meanwhile on the frontline, Russian defence systems intercepted and destroyed 221 Ukrainian drones overnight,
including nine over the Moscow region, the ministry said on Friday.

The duke told the Guardian while on an overnight train to Kyiv: “We cannot stop the war but what we can do is do everything we can to help the recovery process.

“We can continue to humanise the people involved in this war and what they are going through.

“We have to keep it in the forefront of people’s minds. I hope this trip will help to bring it home to people because it’s easy to become desensitised to what has been going on.”

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Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan, previously travelled to Ukraine in April, when he visited war victims as part of his work with wounded veterans.

The prince visited the Superhumans Center, an orthopaedic clinic in Lviv that treats and rehabilitates wounded military personnel and civilians.

Earlier this week, Harry said the King is “great” after he reunited with him at Clarence House for a private tea.

It was their first meeting in 19 months and lasted just 54 minutes.

The last time the father and son saw each other was in February 2024 when the prince flew to the UK after the monarch announced his cancer diagnosis.

Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have lived in California since they quit roles as senior working royals in March 2020.