And there we leave our coverage of today's reshuffle - which all began after Suella Braverman was sacked as home secretary, paving the way for James Cleverly to replace her at the Home Office and for David Cameron - who quit as prime minister after the 2016 Brexit referendum - returning to Downing Street and accepting a job as Rishi Sunak's foreign secretary.
This page was written by Laura Gozzi, Krystyna Gajda and Megan Fisher. It was edited across the day by Sam Hancock, Owen Amos and Rob Corp
Time to take stock after a busy day
The government the UK woke up with this morning isn't the same as the one that's in place tonight. Feeling a bit frazzled by today's events? Let's have a recap of what happened:
Shortly after 08:00, it was announced that Suella Braverman was dismissed as home secretary.
While some had predicted this would happen owing to rising tensions over controversial declarations by Braverman, few expected that her replacement would be former UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who was seen entering Downing Street around 09:00.
As part of the move, Cameron - who is no longer an MP - was made a life peer meaning he could sit in Parliament's House of Lords as Lord Cameron.
A flurry of changes followed:
James Cleverly was moved to the Home Office replacing Braverman
Victoria Atkins became the new health secretary, replacing Steve Barclay, who in turn took over from Therese Coffey who was sacked as environment secretary
Laura Trott became Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Housing minister Rachel Maclean was replaced by Lee Rowley. Maclean's departure caused some grumbling from colleagues Kemi Badenoch and Michael Gove
Meanwhile, others - including science minister George Freeman and paymaster general Jeremy Quin - decided to leave government on their own terms
Some Tories - particularly on the right of the party - will be disappointed by the decision to sack Braverman - but the PM seems satisfied with his appointments.
This evening, he posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying that Monday's moves have resulted in "a united team ready to deliver the changes this country needs for the long term".
Quote Message: This this is a team that will be bold in making the right decisions for our great country, not the easy ones."
This this is a team that will be bold in making the right decisions for our great country, not the easy ones."
And, if you'd like a look at what Sunak's cabinet looks like now, check out our handy guide here.
What have Sunak and Cameron disagreed on?
EPACopyright: EPA
The former PM was seen smiling earlier when he left No 10 having been invited to join Rishi Sunak's CabinetImage caption: The former PM was seen smiling earlier when he left No 10 having been invited to join Rishi Sunak's Cabinet
Following his shock return to front-line politics, new Foreign Secretary David Cameron earlier released a statement acknowledging that he had in the past "disagreed with some individual decisions" made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Despite this, Cameron said, Sunak is a "strong and capable" leader.
So what exactly have they disagreed on? Two key issues come to mind.
HS2: Following Sunak's announcement last month that he'd be scrapping the northern leg of the HS2 rail project, Cameron took to social media to say the decision was "the wrong one". He added that it helped to fuel the argument the government is "heading in the wrong direction"
China: Sunak last year referred to as "naive" the so-called "golden era" of UK-China relations, born under Cameron as PM and his then-Chancellor George Osborne. In the same speech, Sunak said Britain's approach to China needed to evolve and Beijing was "consciously competing for global influence using all the levers of state power"
New cabinet free of 'political machinations of leadership contests'
Transport minister Huw Merriman has told the BBC that the reshuffle will broadcast "unity and teamwork" and added that the people now in cabinet "owe their position to the prime minister rather than perhaps some of the political machinations of leadership contests".
Merriman said the reshuffle also "gives the prime minister the opportunity to stamp his mark on the cabinet and to promote some fresh talent."
Merriman also touched upon some of sacked Home Secretary Suella Braverman's recent controversial comments - including her statement that rough sleeping was a "lifestyle choice".
"It's important we focus on policy, rather than commenting on how people live their lives," Merriman said, adding that "we want to help people get back on their feet" and show "sympathy".
Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns submits letter of no confidence in Sunak
Many on the right of the Conservative Party won't have appreciated the sacking of Suella Braverman - which happened first thing this morning heralding the start of today's ministerial reshuffle.
One of them appears to be Andrea Jenkyns, who has just published the letter of no confidence in PM Rishi Sunak that she has sent to Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs.
The MP for Morley and Outwood accused Sunak of "Machiavellian involvement" which got rid of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, heavily criticised him for sacking Braverman, and blasts last week's King's Speech.
"I hope other Conservative MPs follow suit," Jenkyns says, adding that "this is our last chance to stop [Labour leader Sir Keir] Starmer... we need to stop his socialist cabal."
BreakingEsther McVey returns to government
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
In what might be the last twist in a really eventful day, former cabinet minister Esther McVey has returned to the government.
She has been appointed as a Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office and will attend Cabinet.
McVey was Work and Pensions secretary from January to November 2018 before being demoted to housing minister prior to leaving government in February 2020.
She has since presented programmes on GB News with her husband, fellow Tory MP Philip Davies.
Former deputy PM 'delighted' by Cameron news
Former Deputy Prime Minister Damian Green has welcomed the return of David Cameron to cabinet, saying he was "delighted" by the news and the former PM will be "a sensible and wise voice around the cabinet table".
However, Green said he’s not expecting the imminent return of his old boss Theresa May to cabinet: "It’s probably true that one prime minister coming back at a time is enough in any one reshuffle.”
Green also stated the cabinet will now represent "all wings of the party" and praised the fact that the government now includes voices from the moderates and the centre-right.
Watch: Cameron explains why he came back to politics
Watch what the now-Lord Cameron had to say about his decision to get back to front-line politics.
Video content
Video caption: Cameron on his return: I believe in public serviceCameron on his return: I believe in public service
Braverman heard of fate over the phone
Suella Braverman was told she would be sacked as home secretary over the phone, a Downing Street spokesperson has confirmed.
They stressed the importance of having a "united team" and acknowledged there'd been "differences of style" adding the prime minister, "believes that collective responsibility is a very important principle."
Greensill was dealt with and is in the past - Cameron
Video content
Video caption: Lobbying claims 'dealt with and in the past' - CameronLobbying claims 'dealt with and in the past' - Cameron
In his first broadcast interview since accepting the role of foreign secretary under Sunak, Cameron was pressed about his controversial lobbying of government on behalf of the collapsed finance firm Greensill Capital.
Two years ago, BBC Panorama revealed internal documents suggesting Cameron made about $10m (£8.2m) jetting around the world to promote Greensill.
Greensill collapsed in March 2021 and criminal inquiries into alleged fraud are ongoing in Germany and Switzerland, where its boss Lex Greensill has been named as a suspect.
The Commons Treasury Select Committee found there was a "significant lack of judgement" over Cameron's activities. He was asked why should voters trust him now?
"I think all those things were dealt with by the Treasury Select Committee
and there were other inquiries at the time. As far as I’m concerned that was all
dealt with and in the past.
"And I now have one job as Britain's foreign secretary as part
of Rishi Sunak’s team."
If you want to get more on the controversy around Greensill and Cameron's role in the firm, read this from Andy Verity.
Cameron admits it is unusual to come back
A bit more from David Cameron now, who says it is unusual for a former prime minister to return to political office, but says he has done so because "I believe in
public service".
We face "daunting challenges", he adds, referencing the conflict in the Middle East and the Ukraine war.
Cameron then adds he is hopeful his experience and knowledge from six years as PM and 11 leading the Tories' will help.
He said he was "delighted to accept" the offer from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
BreakingFirst words from Cameron since return to government
Lord Cameron says he's resigned from all his various business and charitable roles - including one with Alzheimers Research
UK - that he's held since quitting as prime minister back in 2016. He says that "all stops now".
"I have one job - to be foreign secretary and work with the prime minister for the UK to be as secure and
prosperous as possible in a difficult and dangerous world," he says in a pooled interview for UK broadcasters.
Need something to listen to on the way home?
We've been hearing for the most of the day about David Cameron's shock return to government - and our colleagues at two of the BBC's flagship news podcasts have been chewing over all the day's developments.
Newscast has been hearing from one of Cameron's former staffers, who says the appointment would have come as "an enormous surprise" to him as well.
His ex-deputy chief of staff Baroness Kate Fall has been speaking to Adam Fleming for a special episode of Newscast.
The appointment's had a mixed reaction elsewhere though with some saying it's a totally different political landscape than "when he was at No 10".
The Today Podcast delves into more of that. Listen here.
Lee Rowley is the new housing minister
Lee Rowley has been appointed housing minister at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, replacing Rachel Maclean - who earlier posted that she was "disappointed" to lose the role.
Rowley is apparently the 16th minister for housing since the Conservatives entered government in 2010.
The MP for North East Derbyshire was seen in Downing Street earlier this afternoon.
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Analysis
Long-serving and influential schools minister leaves
Branwen Jeffreys
Education Editor
In among all the moves today, Nick Gibb - one of the longest standing ministers in government - announced earlier he asked
to leave his job and will be standing down from Parliament at
the next election.
As schools minister for 10 years, he has overseen many of the changes most visible
to parents and children in education in the last decade, including the adoption
of phonics and Singapore maths in primary school as well as the return of
traditional times tables tests.
He has
arguably had more influence on education than any of the recent education secretaries, where there has been significant turnover in the last three years.
In a letter
to his constituency chairman he said a new opportunity had arisen to serve his
country in a diplomatic position, without providing further details. He
paid tribute to his “brilliant, principled and adorable husband” for supporting
his work as minister.
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Cameron meets Indian minister on day one as foreign secretary
David Cameron hit the ground running on Monday as he began his tenure as foreign secretary by meeting India's external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
The Indian minister, who had been scheduled to see James Cleverly, said it was a "pleasure" to meet Lord Cameron on his first day in office, and added that the two "held a detailed discussion on realizing the full potential of our strategic partnership".
No women in cabinet's top jobs
For the first time since the Tories won the 2010 election and formed a coalition government with the Lib Dems all four top jobs in the cabinet are now held by men.
Prime Minister: Rishi Sunak
Foreign Secretary: David Cameron
Home Secretary: James Cleverly
Chancellor: Jeremy Hunt
In the outgoing Labour government of 2010 the top jobs (known as the Great Offices of State) were also all held by men.
Prime Minister: Gordon Brown
Foreign Secretary: David Miliband
Home Secretary: Alan Johnson
Chancellor: Alistair Darling
If Labour were to win the next general election, widely expected to be held next year, women would hold two of the top four cabinet jobs as Rachel Reeves is currently shadow chancellor and Yvette Cooper is shadowing the home secretary.
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Brown and Darling in 2009Image caption: Brown and Darling in 2009
How will Cameron's work be scrutinised?
There's been some commentary about how David Cameron will be held to account in his role as foreign secretary given he is no longer an MP and will sit in Parliament's upper house as a member of the House of Lords following today's appointment.
The Institute for Government's senior researcher Dr Alice Lilly says it is a "highly unusual" situation but Cameron's work will still be scrutinised by his peers.
"The Lords put in place procedures to ensure that Secretaries of State in the Lords would have to answer questions in the Lords in the same way that they would do in the Commons, so I expect that will happen again."
"Obviously there are plenty of other ministers in the Foreign Office who will be able to answer MPs' questions, so it's not like there will be nothing, but it won't be direct from the foreign secretary."
John Glen the new paymaster general
We've just heard that John Glen, former chief secretary to the Treasury, will become the new paymaster general.
It comes after Laura Trott was announced as Glen's replacement in the second-most senior post at the Treasury.
In his new brief, Glen will essentially act as minister without portfolio, and attend cabinet.
Analysis
Atkins moves to other side of spending fence
Hugh Pym
Health editor
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
So
what do we know about Victoria Atkins, the new Secretary of State for Health
and Social Care, covering England?
She
arrives after a year at the Treasury as financial secretary - ironically a few
days after it emerged that the Chancellor had turned down a request by NHS
England for £1 billion to cover the costs of filling rota gaps during doctors’
strikes.
Instead the Treasury contribution is likely to be around £100
million. Health chiefs have already warned that non-urgent care will be scaled
back because of the financial pressures.
Now on the other side of the fence, Atkins will have to grapple with the consequences of Treasury decisions.
Meanwhile, the government obesity strategy in England has partly stalled - with measures to
curb promotion of unhealthy foods put on hold.
Atkins will have to
tread safely - her husband has a senior role in the sugar industry.
Live Reporting
Edited by Rob Corp
All times stated are UK
- James Cleverly was moved to the Home Office replacing Braverman
- Victoria Atkins became the new health secretary, replacing Steve Barclay, who in turn took over from Therese Coffey who was sacked as environment secretary
- Laura Trott became Chief Secretary to the Treasury
-
Housing minister Rachel Maclean was replaced by Lee Rowley. Maclean's departure caused some grumbling from colleagues Kemi Badenoch and Michael Gove
-
Meanwhile, others - including science minister George Freeman and paymaster general Jeremy Quin - decided to leave government on their own terms
EPACopyright: EPA The former PM was seen smiling earlier when he left No 10 having been invited to join Rishi Sunak's CabinetImage caption: The former PM was seen smiling earlier when he left No 10 having been invited to join Rishi Sunak's Cabinet - HS2: Following Sunak's announcement last month that he'd be scrapping the northern leg of the HS2 rail project, Cameron took to social media to say the decision was "the wrong one". He added that it helped to fuel the argument the government is "heading in the wrong direction"
- China: Sunak last year referred to as "naive" the so-called "golden era" of UK-China relations, born under Cameron as PM and his then-Chancellor George Osborne. In the same speech, Sunak said Britain's approach to China needed to evolve and Beijing was "consciously competing for global influence using all the levers of state power"
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media Video caption: Cameron on his return: I believe in public serviceCameron on his return: I believe in public service Video caption: Lobbying claims 'dealt with and in the past' - CameronLobbying claims 'dealt with and in the past' - Cameron 
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media Analysis
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media -
Prime Minister: Rishi Sunak
-
Foreign Secretary: David Cameron
-
Home Secretary: James Cleverly
-
Chancellor: Jeremy Hunt
-
Prime Minister: Gordon Brown
-
Foreign Secretary: David Miliband
-
Home Secretary: Alan Johnson
-
Chancellor: Alistair Darling
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media Brown and Darling in 2009Image caption: Brown and Darling in 2009 Analysis
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Latest PostThank you for reading
And there we leave our coverage of today's reshuffle - which all began after Suella Braverman was sacked as home secretary, paving the way for James Cleverly to replace her at the Home Office and for David Cameron - who quit as prime minister after the 2016 Brexit referendum - returning to Downing Street and accepting a job as Rishi Sunak's foreign secretary.
You can get a full write-up on what happened in our news story, as well as Political Editor Chris Mason's take on the day's events.
This page was written by Laura Gozzi, Krystyna Gajda and Megan Fisher. It was edited across the day by Sam Hancock, Owen Amos and Rob Corp
Time to take stock after a busy day
The government the UK woke up with this morning isn't the same as the one that's in place tonight. Feeling a bit frazzled by today's events? Let's have a recap of what happened:
Shortly after 08:00, it was announced that Suella Braverman was dismissed as home secretary.
While some had predicted this would happen owing to rising tensions over controversial declarations by Braverman, few expected that her replacement would be former UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who was seen entering Downing Street around 09:00.
As part of the move, Cameron - who is no longer an MP - was made a life peer meaning he could sit in Parliament's House of Lords as Lord Cameron.
A flurry of changes followed:
Some Tories - particularly on the right of the party - will be disappointed by the decision to sack Braverman - but the PM seems satisfied with his appointments.
This evening, he posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying that Monday's moves have resulted in "a united team ready to deliver the changes this country needs for the long term".
The PM's new ministers will need to hit the ground running - our diplomatic editor looks at David Cameron's foreign policy baggage, while our home editor saysJames Cleverly's in-tray is packed with issues from asylum to protests.
And, if you'd like a look at what Sunak's cabinet looks like now, check out our handy guide here.
What have Sunak and Cameron disagreed on?
Following his shock return to front-line politics, new Foreign Secretary David Cameron earlier released a statement acknowledging that he had in the past "disagreed with some individual decisions" made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Despite this, Cameron said, Sunak is a "strong and capable" leader.
So what exactly have they disagreed on? Two key issues come to mind.
New cabinet free of 'political machinations of leadership contests'
Transport minister Huw Merriman has told the BBC that the reshuffle will broadcast "unity and teamwork" and added that the people now in cabinet "owe their position to the prime minister rather than perhaps some of the political machinations of leadership contests".
Merriman said the reshuffle also "gives the prime minister the opportunity to stamp his mark on the cabinet and to promote some fresh talent."
Merriman also touched upon some of sacked Home Secretary Suella Braverman's recent controversial comments - including her statement that rough sleeping was a "lifestyle choice".
"It's important we focus on policy, rather than commenting on how people live their lives," Merriman said, adding that "we want to help people get back on their feet" and show "sympathy".
Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns submits letter of no confidence in Sunak
Many on the right of the Conservative Party won't have appreciated the sacking of Suella Braverman - which happened first thing this morning heralding the start of today's ministerial reshuffle.
One of them appears to be Andrea Jenkyns, who has just published the letter of no confidence in PM Rishi Sunak that she has sent to Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs.
The MP for Morley and Outwood accused Sunak of "Machiavellian involvement" which got rid of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, heavily criticised him for sacking Braverman, and blasts last week's King's Speech.
"I hope other Conservative MPs follow suit," Jenkyns says, adding that "this is our last chance to stop [Labour leader Sir Keir] Starmer... we need to stop his socialist cabal."
BreakingEsther McVey returns to government
In what might be the last twist in a really eventful day, former cabinet minister Esther McVey has returned to the government.
She has been appointed as a Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office and will attend Cabinet.
McVey was Work and Pensions secretary from January to November 2018 before being demoted to housing minister prior to leaving government in February 2020.
She has since presented programmes on GB News with her husband, fellow Tory MP Philip Davies.
Former deputy PM 'delighted' by Cameron news
Former Deputy Prime Minister Damian Green has welcomed the return of David Cameron to cabinet, saying he was "delighted" by the news and the former PM will be "a sensible and wise voice around the cabinet table".
However, Green said he’s not expecting the imminent return of his old boss Theresa May to cabinet: "It’s probably true that one prime minister coming back at a time is enough in any one reshuffle.”
Green also stated the cabinet will now represent "all wings of the party" and praised the fact that the government now includes voices from the moderates and the centre-right.
Watch: Cameron explains why he came back to politics
Watch what the now-Lord Cameron had to say about his decision to get back to front-line politics.
Video content
Braverman heard of fate over the phone
Suella Braverman was told she would be sacked as home secretary over the phone, a Downing Street spokesperson has confirmed.
They stressed the importance of having a "united team" and acknowledged there'd been "differences of style" adding the prime minister, "believes that collective responsibility is a very important principle."
Greensill was dealt with and is in the past - Cameron
Video content
In his first broadcast interview since accepting the role of foreign secretary under Sunak, Cameron was pressed about his controversial lobbying of government on behalf of the collapsed finance firm Greensill Capital.
Two years ago, BBC Panorama revealed internal documents suggesting Cameron made about $10m (£8.2m) jetting around the world to promote Greensill.
Greensill collapsed in March 2021 and criminal inquiries into alleged fraud are ongoing in Germany and Switzerland, where its boss Lex Greensill has been named as a suspect.
The Commons Treasury Select Committee found there was a "significant lack of judgement" over Cameron's activities. He was asked why should voters trust him now?
"I think all those things were dealt with by the Treasury Select Committee and there were other inquiries at the time. As far as I’m concerned that was all dealt with and in the past.
"And I now have one job as Britain's foreign secretary as part of Rishi Sunak’s team."
If you want to get more on the controversy around Greensill and Cameron's role in the firm, read this from Andy Verity.
Cameron admits it is unusual to come back
A bit more from David Cameron now, who says it is unusual for a former prime minister to return to political office, but says he has done so because "I believe in public service".
We face "daunting challenges", he adds, referencing the conflict in the Middle East and the Ukraine war.
Cameron then adds he is hopeful his experience and knowledge from six years as PM and 11 leading the Tories' will help.
He said he was "delighted to accept" the offer from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
BreakingFirst words from Cameron since return to government
Lord Cameron says he's resigned from all his various business and charitable roles - including one with Alzheimers Research UK - that he's held since quitting as prime minister back in 2016. He says that "all stops now".
"I have one job - to be foreign secretary and work with the prime minister for the UK to be as secure and prosperous as possible in a difficult and dangerous world," he says in a pooled interview for UK broadcasters.
Need something to listen to on the way home?
We've been hearing for the most of the day about David Cameron's shock return to government - and our colleagues at two of the BBC's flagship news podcasts have been chewing over all the day's developments.
Newscast has been hearing from one of Cameron's former staffers, who says the appointment would have come as "an enormous surprise" to him as well.
His ex-deputy chief of staff Baroness Kate Fall has been speaking to Adam Fleming for a special episode of Newscast.
Listen to the full thing here.
The appointment's had a mixed reaction elsewhere though with some saying it's a totally different political landscape than "when he was at No 10".
The Today Podcast delves into more of that. Listen here.
Lee Rowley is the new housing minister
Lee Rowley has been appointed housing minister at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, replacing Rachel Maclean - who earlier posted that she was "disappointed" to lose the role.
Rowley is apparently the 16th minister for housing since the Conservatives entered government in 2010.
The MP for North East Derbyshire was seen in Downing Street earlier this afternoon.
Long-serving and influential schools minister leaves
Branwen Jeffreys
Education Editor
In among all the moves today, Nick Gibb - one of the longest standing ministers in government - announced earlier he asked to leave his job and will be standing down from Parliament at the next election.
As schools minister for 10 years, he has overseen many of the changes most visible to parents and children in education in the last decade, including the adoption of phonics and Singapore maths in primary school as well as the return of traditional times tables tests.
He has arguably had more influence on education than any of the recent education secretaries, where there has been significant turnover in the last three years.
In a letter to his constituency chairman he said a new opportunity had arisen to serve his country in a diplomatic position, without providing further details. He paid tribute to his “brilliant, principled and adorable husband” for supporting his work as minister.
Cameron meets Indian minister on day one as foreign secretary
David Cameron hit the ground running on Monday as he began his tenure as foreign secretary by meeting India's external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
The Indian minister, who had been scheduled to see James Cleverly, said it was a "pleasure" to meet Lord Cameron on his first day in office, and added that the two "held a detailed discussion on realizing the full potential of our strategic partnership".
No women in cabinet's top jobs
For the first time since the Tories won the 2010 election and formed a coalition government with the Lib Dems all four top jobs in the cabinet are now held by men.
In the outgoing Labour government of 2010 the top jobs (known as the Great Offices of State) were also all held by men.
If Labour were to win the next general election, widely expected to be held next year, women would hold two of the top four cabinet jobs as Rachel Reeves is currently shadow chancellor and Yvette Cooper is shadowing the home secretary.
How will Cameron's work be scrutinised?
There's been some commentary about how David Cameron will be held to account in his role as foreign secretary given he is no longer an MP and will sit in Parliament's upper house as a member of the House of Lords following today's appointment.
The Institute for Government's senior researcher Dr Alice Lilly says it is a "highly unusual" situation but Cameron's work will still be scrutinised by his peers.
"The Lords put in place procedures to ensure that Secretaries of State in the Lords would have to answer questions in the Lords in the same way that they would do in the Commons, so I expect that will happen again."
"Obviously there are plenty of other ministers in the Foreign Office who will be able to answer MPs' questions, so it's not like there will be nothing, but it won't be direct from the foreign secretary."
John Glen the new paymaster general
We've just heard that John Glen, former chief secretary to the Treasury, will become the new paymaster general.
It comes after Laura Trott was announced as Glen's replacement in the second-most senior post at the Treasury.
In his new brief, Glen will essentially act as minister without portfolio, and attend cabinet.
Atkins moves to other side of spending fence
Hugh Pym
Health editor
So what do we know about Victoria Atkins, the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, covering England?
She arrives after a year at the Treasury as financial secretary - ironically a few days after it emerged that the Chancellor had turned down a request by NHS England for £1 billion to cover the costs of filling rota gaps during doctors’ strikes.
Instead the Treasury contribution is likely to be around £100 million. Health chiefs have already warned that non-urgent care will be scaled back because of the financial pressures.
Now on the other side of the fence, Atkins will have to grapple with the consequences of Treasury decisions.
Meanwhile, the government obesity strategy in England has partly stalled - with measures to curb promotion of unhealthy foods put on hold.
Atkins will have to tread safely - her husband has a senior role in the sugar industry.