2020 British cabinet reshuffle
Boris Johnsoncarried out the first significantreshuffleof hismajority governmenton 13 February 2020. Following theDecember 2019 general election,there was considerable speculation that Johnson was planning a major reshuffle of theCabinet,to take place after the United Kingdom's officialwithdrawalfrom theEuropean Unionon 31 January 2020. There were reports that up to a third of the Cabinet would be dismissed, Whitehall departments abolished and civil servants replaced by policy experts; however, the reshuffle was smaller than expected and no departments were abolished.[1]The anticipated reshuffle was nicknamed "The St Valentine's Day Massacre" in the press, due to its proximity toSt Valentine's Day,the name being a reference to the1929 gangland shootinginChicago.[2][3]
Johnson formed hisfirst ministryon 24 July 2019, following hiselectionasLeader of the Conservative Partyand subsequent appointment asPrime Minister of the United Kingdom.[4]In September 2019, he carried out small reshuffles in response to theresignationsof two Cabinet ministers (Jo JohnsonandAmber Rudd).[5][6]After the Conservative Party's victory in the 2019 general election, Johnson's only change had been to fill the position left vacant byAlun Cairns' resignation in the previous month.[7]
On 13 February 2020, Johnson reshuffled the government. Five Cabinet ministers were sacked, including theNorthern Ireland SecretaryJulian Smith,a decision that was criticised by several politicians and commentators following Smith's success in restoring the devolvedNorthern Ireland Executiveunder the terms of theNew Decade, New Approachagreement.[8]Chancellor of the ExchequerSajid Javidresigned from the Cabinet after refusing Johnson's demand that he dismiss his advisers.[9]
This was the last major cabinet reshuffle before the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, and was followed by two more reshuffles in2021and2022.
Cabinet-level changes[edit]
| Colour key |
|---|
|
Junior ministerial changes[edit]
| Colour key |
|---|
|
Whips' Office appointments[edit]
| Whip | Previous position | New position | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stuart AndrewMP | Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Deputy Chief Government Whip Treasurer of the Household |
|
Marcus JonesMP | Assistant Government Whip | Vice-Chamberlain of the Household |
|
James MorrisMP | Lord Commissioner of the Treasury | |
|
Michael TomlinsonMP | Backbencher | |
|
Alex ChalkMP | Assistant Government Whip | |
|
Eddie HughesMP | ||
|
The Viscount Younger of Leckie | Lord-in-waiting Government Whip | |
|
The Baroness Scott of Bybrook | Baroness-in-Waiting Government Whip | |
Reaction[edit]
Dismissal of Julian Smith[edit]
The decision to dismissJulian SmithasSecretary of State for Northern Irelandwas criticised by a number of prominent political figures inNorthern Ireland,including SDLP leaderColum Eastwoodwho described the move as showing "dangerous indifference" by thePrime Minister.[12]Smith had been widely seen as instrumental in securing a cross-party deal to restore theNorthern Ireland Executive,theNew Decade, New Approachagreement, after three years without a devolved government inStormont.[13][8]Tributes to Smith's tenure as Northern Ireland Secretary were paid byNI First MinisterArlene FosterandTaoiseachLeo Varadkar.Both praised him for his role in ending the political deadlock in the country.[14][15]
Many political commentators expressed their surprise at Smith's dismissal, given his perceived success during his time as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Some suggested that Smith's testimony to theNorthern Ireland Affairs Select Committeein October 2019, in which he described a potentialno-deal Brexitas being "a very, very bad idea for Northern Ireland",[16]had influenced the decision to remove him from his position.[17]Stephen Bush,political editor of theNew Statesman,speculated that the consequence of Johnson's removal of Smith would be the destabilisation of the new power-sharing agreement and increased difficulty in negotiating the details of the "New Protocol".[18]
Resignation of Sajid Javid[edit]
Tensions between10 Downing Streetand the Treasury had come to a head in August 2019, when the Prime Minister's Chief Special AdviserDominic Cummingsdismissed one ofChancellorSajid Javid's aides, Sonia Khan, without Javid's permission and without informing him. It was alleged that, during her dismissal, Cummings "went outside No 10 and asked an armed officer to enter the building and escort Khan off the premises."[19]In November 2019, following questions of a rift between the two men, Johnson gave his assurance that he would retain Javid as Chancellor after the2019 general election.[20]
However, in the weeks leading up to the reshuffle, a number of briefings in the press had suggested that a new economic ministry led byRishi Sunakmight be established, to reduce the power and political influence of theTreasury.Sunak was considered to be a Johnson loyalist, seen as the "rising star" minister who had ably represented the Prime Minister during the 2019 election debates.[21][22]By February 2020, it was reported that Javid would remain in his role as Chancellor and that Sunak would stay on asChief Secretary to the Treasury,in order to "keep an eye" on Javid.[23]
On 13 February 2020, the day of the reshuffle, Javid resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer, following a meeting with the Prime Minister. During the meeting, Johnson had offered to allow Javid to keep his position on the condition that he dismiss all his advisers at the Treasury and replace them with ones selected by 10 Downing Street.[9]Upon resigning, Javid told thePress Associationthat "no self-respecting minister would accept those terms".[24][25]
The Chancellor's resignation had been unexpected, given Johnson's commitment to keep him in the Cabinet and recent reports that a rival finance ministry would not be created. Robert Shrimsley, chief political commentator of theFinancial Times,warned that the Prime Minister's handling of his relationship with Javid could damage the government. He argued that "good government often depends on senior ministers – and the chancellor in particular – being able to fight bad ideas. Mr Johnson's cabinet has just seen the price of defiance".[26]
See also[edit]
- 2021 British cabinet reshuffle
- Second Johnson ministry
- Premiership of Boris Johnson
- List of departures from the second Johnson ministry
- 2020 in politics and government
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Shipman, Tim (15 December 2019)."Now for the Boris Johnson revolution — PM to wield axe in radical cabinet reshuffle".The Times.
- ^Balls, Katy (13 January 2020)."The strategy behind Boris Johnson's incoming government shake-up".The Spectator.Archived fromthe originalon 17 February 2020.Retrieved13 February2020.
- ^Tominey, Camilla (5 February 2020)."Will Boris Johnson's post-Brexit reshuffle be a Valentine's Day massacre?".Daily Telegraph.
- ^"Boris Johnson becomes UK's new prime minister".BBC News.24 July 2019.
- ^Havergal, Chris (10 September 2019)."Chris Skidmore returns as universities minister in UK government".Times Higher Education.
- ^"Therese Coffey replaces Amber Rudd in cabinet after dramatic resignation".ITV News.8 September 2019.
- ^"Simon Hart appointed new Welsh secretary".BBC News.16 December 2019.
- ^abWalker, Peter (13 February 2020)."Smith, Leadsom and McVey out as Johnson reshuffles cabinet".The Guardian.
- ^ab"Cabinet reshuffle: Sajid Javid resigns as chancellor".BBC News.13 February 2020.
- ^Schofield, Kevin (25 February 2020)."Boris Johnson ally quits government after turning down Foreign Office job".Politics Home.Retrieved26 May2022.
- ^Jointly withHM Treasury
- ^"Julian Smith sacked as NI Secretary by Boris Johnson".BBC News.13 February 2020.
- ^Elliott, Francis; Swinford, Steven (13 February 2020)."Boris Johnson fires Julian Smith, minister who secured Stormont deal".The Times.
- ^Edwards, Mark (13 February 2020)."Julian Smith sacked from Northern Ireland post in Boris Johnson's Cabinet reshuffle".Belfast Telegraph.
- ^@LeoVaradkar(13 February 2020)."In 8 months as Secretary of State, Julian you helped to restore powersharing in Stormont, secured an agreement with us to avoid a hard border, plus marriage equality. You are one of Britain's finest politicians of our time. Thank you"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
- ^Mairs, Nicholas (23 October 2019)."Julian Smith breaks ranks with Boris Johnson to brand no-deal Brexit 'very bad' for Northern Ireland".PoliticsHome.
- ^Forrest, Adam (13 February 2020)."Boris Johnson news – live: PM axes Tory minister who helped secure Stormont deal, as fresh questions raised over £15,000 Caribbean holiday".The Independent.Archivedfrom the original on 13 February 2020.
- ^Bush, Stephen (13 February 2020)."Boris Johnson has already made the most important sacking of today's reshuffle".New Statesman.
- ^Helm, Toby; Townsend,Mark (1 September 2019)."PM 'must launch urgent inquiry into Dominic Cummings's reign of terror'".The Guardian.
- ^Parker, George; Payne, Sebastian (18 November 2019)."Boris Johnson vows to retain Sajid Javid as chancellor".Financial Times.
- ^Parker, George (25 December 2019)."Johnson's 'favourite minister' tipped to run super-ministry".Financial Times.
- ^Balls, Katy (13 February 2020)."Is Sajid Javid at war with No. 10?".The Spectator.Archived fromthe originalon 13 February 2020.Retrieved13 February2020.
- ^Mason, Rowena (5 February 2020)."Ministers jostle as Johnson plans long-awaited reshuffle".The Guardian.
- ^Mason, Rowena (13 February 2020)."Sajid Javid resigns as chancellor amid Johnson reshuffle".The Guardian.
- ^"Sajid Javid quits as British Chancellor".RTÉ.13 February 2020.
- ^Shrimsley, Robert (13 February 2020)."Johnson has backed Cummings over his chancellor — and there will be a cost".Financial Times.
