Rishi Sunak urged to overhaul the cabinet as he begins his first day as PM

Published

2 years ago

October 25, 2022

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Rishi Sunak is being urged to overhaul the cabinet on his first day as prime minister.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told Sky News that the new PM’s government should feature the best ministers available – rather than focusing on those who are loyal.

“We have got to have the first 15 on the pitch. I know that Rishi understands that,” Mr Cleverly said.

Reshuffle rumours as some Tory members said to be ‘fuming’ – new PM latest

Mr Sunak’s team are keeping tight-lipped about any potential reshuffle moves – but Sky News understands that recently appointed Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is likely to keep his job.

The new prime minister will be officially appointed by King Charles this morning, and is set to make a public address in front of Number 10 before lunchtime.

Sky News will have full coverage of Mr Sunak’s first day in the job – and you can find out more details of today’s key timings here.

Reports suggest he is planning to build a cabinet of “all the talents” that will see the political return of the “adults”.

Long-time backers of Mr Sunak – including ex-justice secretary Dominic Raab, Commons treasury committee chair Mel Stride and ex-chief whip Mark Harper – are tipped to be in the cabinet, as well as former party chairman Oliver Dowden.

Many of the most senior posts are expected to go to those who have consistently supported him – including when he lost to Ms Truss in the last Conservative leadership race that began just three months ago.

Newly appointed Home Secretary Grant Shapps will be hoping to keep his job after backing Mr Sunak both in July and in recent days.

Mr Hunt is widely expected to remain in Number 11 as he works towards a highly anticipated fiscal statement on Halloween, as part of attempts to stabilise jittery markets.

But another source in the new PM’s camp told Sky News that discussions are still ongoing – and cautioned that no decisions have been made.

And Penny Mordaunt – who bowed out of the race after failing to get the required 100 nominations from Tory MPs – could also receive some kind of promotion.

There is speculation that she could replace Mr Cleverly in the Foreign Office, and a source close to Ms Mordaunt has told Sky News that she would like to be offered the role.

Suella Braverman and Kemi Badenoch – favourites of Conservative members to the right of the party – will also be hoping to serve in Mr Sunak’s top team after endorsing his latest campaign.

Veteran cabinet minister Michael Gove – who was sacked as levelling up secretary in the dying days of the Johnson government – and former defence secretary Gavin Williamson are other high-profile backers of the Sunak campaign who could be rewarded.

‘Unite or die’

Mr Sunak will become the country’s first Hindu leader and the UK’s youngest prime minister in modern political history – beating all his predecessors except William Pitt the Younger, who was just 24 when he took office in 1783.

The 42-year-old only became an MP in 2015 and has had a swift rise to the top job.

Speaking to Tory politicians yesterday, he acknowledged the “profound economic challenge” that the nation now faces – and reportedly warned that the party must “unite or die” as they focus on delivering the public’s priorities.

He now has the difficult task of steering the nation through a crisis that was exacerbated by Ms Truss’s government’s disastrous mini-budget, which caused the pound to fall to a record low.

Last week, she resigned after just 44 days in office.

In an 86-second address to the nation yesterday afternoon, Mr Sunak promised to serve with “integrity and humility” and praised Ms Truss for having served during “exceptionally difficult circumstances”.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Nadhim Zahawi said Mr Sunak becoming prime minister proves “the United Kingdom is a place where you can achieve amazing things”.

But opposition parties have reiterated their calls for an immediate general election – stressing that Mr Sunak has “no mandate” to govern.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has said “the public are clamouring for a say”, adding: “The Conservative Party is a sclerotic mess.

“They are chaotic and who’s to say Rishi Sunak isn’t going to be out in six months’ time because you can hear the knives sharpening in Westminster of the disgruntled Borisites … who still think Rishi knifed Boris Johnson in the back.”

UK

‘Major incident’ declared in Northern Ireland as wildfire breaks out amid higher-than-normal temperatures

Published

23 mins ago

April 6, 2025

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'Major incident' declared in Northern Ireland as wildfire breaks out amid higher-than-normal temperatures

A major incident has been declared in Northern Ireland after a wildfire broke out, the latest in a series of blazes seen across the UK over the past week amid soaring temperatures.

More than 100 firefighters and 14 fire appliances were at the scene of the “significant” wildfire on Sandbank Road, Hilltown, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said.

The fire had a front of approximately two miles “including a large area of forestry close to property”, the service said.

“Local residents are requested to avoid the area, a number of roads have been closed, to help support firefighting operations,” the fire service added.

“We ask that all members of the public remain particularly vigilant to the risk of fire at this time. We can reassure members of the public that normal service delivery is being maintained.”

Various fires erupted across England this week amid uncharacteristically warm and dry conditions for the time of year.

On Saturday, helicopters were deployed to tackle Scotland’s fourth wildfire this week, with police saying a blaze “which started in the Newton Stewart area has spread northwards and is expected to reach the Loch Doon area of East Ayrshire around 12am on Sunday”.

Police Scotland added: “As a precautionary measure members of the public are asked to avoid the Loch Doon area and anyone who may be camping in the area is advised to leave.”

Elsewhere in England, Devon and Cornwall Police said they were assisting the fire service with temporary road closures on the A30 in the Bolventor area as they tackle “a number of fires” on moorland.

In Dorset, Moors Valley Country Park was forced to close after multiple wildfires broke out there on Wednesday.

Separate incidents were then reported at Upton Heath in Poole on Wednesday, and nearby Canford Heath in the early hours of Thursday.

Friday was officially the warmest day of the year so far – with temperatures in the south of England reaching 23C (73.4F) – the highest since 21 September last year, according to the Met Office.

The weather conditions triggered a “severe” wildfire rating for parts of the UK on Tuesday.

UK

Labour MP Dan Norris arrested on suspicion of rape and child sex offences

Published

9 hours ago

April 5, 2025

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Labour MP Dan Norris arrested on suspicion of rape and child sex offences

Labour MP Dan Norris has been arrested on suspicion of rape and child sex offences.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Dan Norris MP was immediately suspended by the Labour Party upon being informed of his arrest.

“We cannot comment further while the police investigation is ongoing.”

Police said a man in his 60s had been arrested on Friday on suspicion of sexual offences against a girl, rape, child abduction and misconduct in a public office.

Sky News has contacted Mr Norris for comment.

Mr Norris, 65, defeated Jacob Rees-Mogg to win the new seat of North East Somerset and Hanham in last year’s general election.

He has also lost the party whip in the House of Commons and has stepped down from his role as chair of the League Against Cruel Sports.

Avon and Somerset Police said in a statement: “In December 2024, we received a referral from another police force relating to alleged non-recent child sex offences having been committed against a girl.

“Most of the offences are alleged to have occurred in the 2000s, but we’re also investigating an alleged offence of rape from the 2020s.

“An investigation, led by officers within Operation Bluestone, our dedicated rape and serious sexual assault investigation team, remains ongoing and at an early stage.

“The victim is being supported and given access to any specialist help or support she needs.

“A man, aged in his 60s, was arrested on Friday (April 4) on suspicion of sexual offences against a girl (under the Sexual Offences Act 1956), rape (under the Sexual Offences Act 2003), child abduction and misconduct in a public office. He’s been released on conditional bail for enquiries to continue.

“This is an active and sensitive investigation, so we’d respectfully ask people not to speculate on the circumstances so our enquiries can continue unhindered.”

Mr Norris first entered Parliament when Tony Blair came to power in 1997 and served as the Wansdyke MP until 2010.

He was an assistant whip under Mr Blair and served as a junior minister under Gordon Brown.

Mr Norris has also been West of England mayor since 2021 but is due to step down ahead of May’s local elections.

A spokesman for the League Against Cruel Sports, a UK-based animal welfare charity which campaigns to end sports such as fox hunting and game bird shooting, confirmed he had stepped down from his role.

“The charity cannot comment further while an investigation is ongoing,” a statement said.

UK

Jaguar Land Rover to ‘pause’ US shipments over Donald Trump tariffs

Published

17 hours ago

April 5, 2025

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Jaguar Land Rover to 'pause' US shipments over Donald Trump tariffs

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has said it will “pause” shipments to the US as the British car firm works to “address the new trading terms” of Donald Trump’s tariffs.

The US president has introduced a 25% levy on all foreign cars imported into the country, which came into force on Thursday.

JLR, one of the country’s biggest carmakers, exported about 38,000 cars to the US in the third quarter of 2024 – almost equal to the amount sold to the UK and the EU combined.

Follow live updates: Trump’s baseline 10% tariff kicks in

In a statement on Saturday, a spokesperson for the company behind the Jaguar, Land Rover and Range Rover brands said: “The USA is an important market for JLR’s luxury brands.

“As we work to address the new trading terms with our business partners, we are taking some short-term actions including a shipment pause in April, as we develop our mid- to longer-term plans.”

The company released a statement last week before Mr Trump announced a “baseline” 10% tariff on goods from around the world, which kicked in on Saturday morning, on what he called “liberation day”.

JLR reassured customers its business was “resilient” and “accustomed to changing market conditions”.

“Our priorities now are delivering for our clients around the world and addressing these new US trading terms,” the firm said.

Trading across the world has been hit by Mr Trump’s tariff announcement at the White House on Wednesday.

All but one stock on the FTSE 100 fell on Friday – with Rolls-Royce, banks and miners among those to suffer the sharpest losses.

Cars are the top product exported from the UK to the US, with exports worth £8.3bn in the year to the end of September 2024, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.

For UK carmakers, the US is the second largest export market behind the European Union.

Industry groups have previously warned the tariffs will force firms to rethink where they trade, while a report by thinktank the Institute for Public Policy Research said more than 25,000 car manufacturing jobs in the UK could be at risk.