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.
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.
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
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.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Prince Harry arrives in Kyiv
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.
Yvette Cooper with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Pic: Valentyn Ogirenko/PA
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.
Read more from Sky News:
Maps and videos show seconds before Charlie Kirk was shot
Ireland will not participate in Eurovision if Israel takes part
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.
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.
Pic: Railway of Ukraine Ukrzaliznytsia/AP
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.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Drones shot down in Poland
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.”
Read more from Sky News:
Brazil’s ex-president jailed for 27 years
Migrant hotel critics meet asylum seekers
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
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.
Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison for attempting a coup to stay in power after his 2022 election defeat.
The far-right politician, who ruled Brazil between 2019 and 2022, is currently under house arrest in the capital, Brasilia.
A panel of five Supreme Court justices handed down the sentence several hours after they found the 70-year-old guilty on five counts.
The counts were trying to stage a coup, being part of an armed criminal organisation, attempting violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, being implicated in violence, and posing a serious threat to the state’s assets and listed heritage.
Bolsonaro‘s lawyers have said they will appeal the verdict.
Pic: AP
The ruling will deepen political divisions in Brazil and is also likely to prompt a backlash from the United States government – with Donald Trump already sharing his thoughts on the vote.
President Trump, an ally of Bolsonaro, has said he was surprised and “very unhappy” with the decision.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House, he said he always found Bolsonaro “outstanding” and said the conviction is “very bad for Brazil”.
Mr Trump previously called the case a “witch hunt”, slapped Brazil with tariff hikes, and revoked US visas for most members of Brazil’s high court.
Bolsonaro is the first former Brazilian president to be convicted of attempting a coup.
He has not attended the court proceedings, and on Thursday, he was seen at the garage of his property, but did not talk to the media.
Read more from Sky News:
What we know about how Charlie Kirk was killed
Read Mandelson’s letter to US embassy staff after being sacked
Justice Carmen Lucia. Pic: AP
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has been overseeing the case, said on Tuesday that Bolsonaro was the leader of a coup plot and of a criminal organisation, and voted in favour of convicting him. Justices Flavio Dino, Carmen Lucia, and Cristiano Zanin sided with Justice Moraes in the trial.
On Wednesday, another justice, Luiz Fux, disagreed and voted to acquit the ex-president of all charges.
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
Justice Lucia said she was convinced by the evidence the attorney general’s office put forward against Bolsonaro, saying: “He is the instigator, the leader of an organisation that orchestrated every possible move to maintain or seize power.”
Bolsonaro had been previously banned from running for office until 2030 in a different case.
He is expected to choose an heir who is likely to challenge President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva next year.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment11 months agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024