May appoints Damian Green as first secretary of state
11 Jun 2017 5:42 PM GMT
Damian Green has been appointed first secretary of state as Theresa May reshuffles her Cabinet. The job is effectively second-in-command to the prime minister.
Former Justice Secretary Liz Truss is now chief secretary to the Treasury, while David Gauke, who previously held that role, has been appointed works and pensions secretary.
The reshuffle comes after the general election left the Conservatives as the largest party but without a majority.
Green, who was previously work and pensions secretary and was at university with Mrs May, has also become minister for the Cabinet Office, a position left vacant by Ben Gummer, who lost his seat in Thursday's general election.
The first secretary of state is a role previously held by George Osborne and, under Labour, Peter Mandelson and could see Green standing in for Theresa May at prime minister's questions, when she is not available.
Greg Clark is remaining in his post of business, energy and industrial strategy secretary.
And Liam Fox retains his position as international trade secretary - he told reporters he was "delighted" to be continuing in the role he has held since July last year. Fox was one of the Cabinet's "three Brexiteers" with David Davis and Boris Johnson, who have also kept their roles, as the government gears up for the start of talks with Brussels.
Liz Truss's change of position will be seen by some as a demotion - she was widely criticised by the judiciary following the High Court ruling regarding the government seeking Parliament's permission to trigger Article 50 and begin the formal start of the Brexit process. The judges involved were heavily criticised by some newspapers, and Mrs Truss was in turn criticised for failing to stand up for them.
Justine Greening remains as education secretary - her opposition to Theresa May's policy of expanding grammar schools might be less of an issue now, if, as some expect, the government is forced to drop it from the Queen's Speech to prevent a backbench revolt.
And Sajid Javid is also continuing in his role of communities and local government secretary. David Lidington has been made justice secretary and lord chancellor.
May's plan to govern with DUP support thrown into confusion
Theresa May's plan for a loose alliance with the Democratic Unionists to prop up her government was thrown into confusion on Saturday after the Northern Ireland party contradicted a No 10 announcement that a deal had been reached. A Downing Street statement on Saturday said a "confidence and supply" agreement had been reached with the DUP and would be put to the cabinet on Monday.
But the DUP last night put the brakes on that announcement, saying talks were continuing, not finalised. The DUP leader, Arlene Foster, said "discussions will continue next week to work on the details and to reach agreement on arrangements for the new parliament". Following talks between May and the DUP last night, a second statement from No 10 clarified that no final deal had been reached.
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