LONDON, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson started to re-assemble his front bench team Monday night as deadline of Brexit is approaching.
Conservative Nicky Morgan, who decided not to seek re-election in last week’s general election, has been kept on by Johnson as a member of his cabinet as Culture Secretary, even though she no longer sits in the House of Commons.
Nicky Morgan stood down as MP for Loughborough at the general election
It came after Queen Elizabeth II conferred a peerage on Morgan which entitles her to sit in the unelected House of Lords, and to serve in the government as a minister.
Morgan, who will be in charge of broadband and media policy, suggested she might only be in the role for a few weeks – pending what are expected to be far-reaching changes to the PM’s top team after the UK has left the EU on Jan 31.
Political observers had been waiting all day for Johnson’s mini-shuffle to find replacements for Morgan, who was culture secretary before she quit, and Alun Cairns, secretary of state for Wales who also left Johnson’s front bench team of ministers.
Welsh MP Simon Hart was named as the new Welsh Secretary.
Simon Hart said he had been given an amazing opportunity
The choice of Simon Hart as Welsh secretary marks a big promotion for the 56-year old MP, who was previously a junior Cabinet Office minister.
Reacting to his appointment, Hart said: “It’s great to have this opportunity. I’ve got my orders and I’m going to try and do it as best I can.”
The Welsh post has been vacant since early last month, when Alun Cairns quit over claims he knew about a former aide’s role in the “sabotage” of a rape trial.
Hart and Morgan both backed Remain in the 2016 referendum but have been strong supporters of the PM’s Brexit deal.
Most cabinet ministers – including Chancellor Sajid Javid, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Home Secretary Priti Patel – are staying put following the Conservatives’ election victory. They have only been in post since July, when Mr Johnson became PM.
There has been unconfirmed speculation that the PM is contemplating a much bigger shake-up in February, including changes to a number of departments, including the Department for Exiting the European Union, the Home Office and Department for International Development.
Meanwhile earlier Monday, the 109 new Conservative MPs arrived at Westminster for training and familiarization sessions.
They will head to the famous paneled chamber Tuesday to start the process of being sworn-in as MPs.
Monday night the so-called “new-be” MPs were addressed by Johnson.
He hailed the “incredible achievement” of the 109 Tory MPs elected for the first time last week, including many representing areas that had previously been die-hard Labour territory.
“You’ve come from places that the Conservative Party have not been represented for a hundred years, if ever,” he said at a photo call in the Palace of Westminster. “That’s a fantastic tribute to you.” — NNN-AGENCIES