Reshuffle 2020: Who is in Boris Johnson's new cabinet?

Boris Johnson outside 10 Downing Street on 13 December

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has carried out a reshuffle of ministers in cabinet positions, two months after winning the general election.

There was speculation ahead of the reshuffle about how diverse the new Cabinet would be, particularly considering women and people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Who's in what job? Here's a guide to the people that make up Mr Johnson's cabinet, with the latest new faces and who's changed places.

Boris Johnson's cabinet

Blue backgrounds indicate full cabinet members and grey backgrounds indicate attending members

  • Boris Johnson

    Prime Minister @BorisJohnson

    Boris Johnson's election win in December secured him the largest Tory majority in Parliament since 1987.

    While his election campaign promised to "get Brexit done", Mr Johnson has said his "one nation government" will also "massively increase investment in the NHS".

    Mr Johnson succeeded Theresa May as prime minister in July, having served as foreign secretary since 2016 in what was only his first cabinet post.

    His views on how to deliver Brexit brought him into conflict with Mrs May, and led to his resignation in 2018.

  • Rishi Sunak

    Chancellor @rishisunak

    Rishi Sunak replaces Sajid Javid, who resigned as Chancellor during the reshuffle on Thursday.

    Appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury in July, Rishi Sunak’s status as a rising star was highlighted when he was sent to stand in for Boris Johnson at the BBC’s seven-party election debate.

    He was previously a successful businessman, co-founding a large investment firm.

    Mr Sunak is married to Akshata Murthy daughter of an Indian billionaire. The couple lived in California for a number of years before coming back to the UK.

    They now have two daughters.

  • Priti Patel

    Home Secretary @patel4witham

    Priti Patel was appointed home secretary in Boris Johnson’s first cabinet and has kept her position since then.

    A prominent Brexiteer, Ms Patel had previously argued that Mr Johnson was the only person who could save Brexit and the Tories.

    She had previously served as Theresa May's international development secretary, until she was forced to quit following a row over unauthorised meetings with Israeli politicians.

    She was first elected to the seat of Witham, Essex, in 2010, after working for several years in PR for the Conservative Party, as well as lobbying for tobacco and alcohol industries.

  • Dominic Raab

    Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab

    Dominic Raab was appointed foreign secretary and first secretary of state in Boris Johnson's first cabinet in July and remains in post.

    A staunch Brexiteer, Mr Raab served as a justice minister in 2015, but was sacked by Theresa May when she became prime minister the following year.

    He made a return as Brexit secretary in July 2018 after the resignation of David Davis, but quit only months later in opposition to Mrs May’s Brexit deal.

    Mr Raab started his career as an international lawyer, before joining the Foreign Office as a diplomat. He is married with two sons.

  • Michael Gove

    Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster @michaelgove

    Michael Gove is the cabinet minister with the most experience - but his aspirations for the top job are well known. He lost out to Boris Johnson in the Conservative leadership campaign in summer 2019.

    Mr Gove became environment secretary in June 2017 and proved a key advocate of Theresa May’s Brexit deal, while other Brexiteer cabinet ministers resigned.

    In 2016, he famously scuppered the leadership hopes of his friend Boris Johnson, by announcing his own candidature on the morning of Johnson's own campaign launch.

    Mr Gove was a key ally of former Prime Minister David Cameron and has served as MP for Surrey Heath since 2005.

    He made his name as a radical education secretary, bringing in major changes to exams and the curriculum and battling teaching unions during his four years in the role.

  • Ben Wallace

    Defence Secretary @BWallaceMP

    Appointed defence secretary by Boris Johnson last July, Ben Wallace previously served as security minister.

    Mr Wallace backed Remain in 2016 and has warned that leaving the EU without a deal would hit UK-EU security ties and have a "real impact" on protecting the public.

    After training at Sandhurst, Mr Wallace joined the Scots Guards as a platoon commander.

    He spent eight years in the Army, serving in Northern Ireland, Germany, Cyprus and Central America.

    He was a member of the Scottish Parliament, before winning his seat of Lancaster and Wyre in 2005.

  • Liz Truss

    International Trade Secretary, Women and Equalities @trussliz

    Liz Truss was made international trade secretary and also women and equalities minister when Boris Johnson took office and remains in that role.

    She was previously in Theresa May’s cabinet as the first female lord chancellor between 2016 and 2017. She served as environment secretary in David Cameron's government from 2014-16.

    Ms Truss was elected to Parliament in 2010 after serving as deputy director of think tank Reform.

    In a widely-publicised speech in June 2018, she attacked cabinet colleagues for demanding more money, saying it would only lead to higher taxation.

  • Matt Hancock

    Health & Social Care Secretary @MattHancock

    Mr Hancock remains in post as health secretary.

    At 40, he was youngest contender in the Tory leadership race in the summer of 2019. He quit the contest a day after he came sixth in the first ballot and later endorsed Boris Johnson.

    The ambitious MP for West Suffolk was promoted to health secretary in 2018 after only a few months as culture secretary.

    He campaigned for Remain in the EU referendum but backed both Theresa May's and Mr Johnson's Brexit deal.

    The former Bank of England economist likes to see himself as one of the most technology-savvy politicians at Westminster - he was the first MP to have his own smartphone app.

  • Gavin Williamson

    Education Secretary @GavinWilliamson

    Gavin Williamson made a swift return to the cabinet last July following his sacking by Theresa May two months earlier after row over the leaking of information from the National Security Council.

    Mr Williamson is influential within the Tory party, having served as a ministerial aide to David Cameron and then as chief whip, in charge of party discipline.

    At that time, he famously kept a tarantula named Cronus on his desk in the House of Commons.

    Mr Williamson, who backed remain in the EU referendum, also helped to run Boris Johnson’s campaign in the first phase of the Tory leadership contest last summer.

  • Oliver Dowden

    Culture Secretary @oliverdowden

    The 41-year old MP for Hertsmere is a rising star in the Conservative ranks and replaces Nicky Morgan as Culture Secretary.

    Since last summer, he has been a minister in the Cabinet Office – playing a key role working with No 10 in implementing government policy.

    Before becoming an MP, the Cambridge-educated law graduate worked in public relations and cut his teeth in the Conservative Research Department.

    He then worked as an adviser to David Cameron, becoming his deputy chief of staff in Downing Street. He subsequently received a CBE for his services.

    In his maiden speech, he told the House of Commons he could make a legitimate claim to be the MP for TV soap Eastenders’ Albert Square, as it was filmed in his constituency. During his five years in the Commons, he has campaigned on greater legal protection for the Green Belt, more money for education and simplification of the tax system.

  • Alok Sharma

    Business Secretary @AlokSharma_RDG

    The former International Development Secretary replaces Andrea Leadsom.

    The MP for Reading West backed Boris Johnson for prime minister and joined the cabinet in July 2019.

    Mr Sharma will also be the minister responsible for the Glasgow COP26 climate summit in November.

    Prior to being elected in 2010, he qualified as a chartered accountant and worked in banking.

    He is married with two daughters.

  • Robert Jenrick

    Housing, Communities and Local Government @RobertJenrick

    Former Treasury Minister Robert Jenrick represented the Conservatives on the under 30s Question Time debate during the general election campaign.

    In the summer he joined other rising stars Rishi Sunak and Oliver Dowden in saying Boris Johnson was the only one who could save the Tory party from an "existential threat".

    He drew criticism in 2017 when, as chair of the all-party parliamentary group on international trade, he attended US President Donald Trump's inauguration.

    Mr Jenrick was elected as MP for Newark in a by-election in June 2014 after Patrick Mercer resigned in disgrace, and won the seat with an increased majority at the general election of 2015.

    He voted Remain in the EU referendum.

  • Therese Coffey

    Work & Pensions @theresecoffey

    Former environment minister Therese Coffey was appointed after Amber Rudd resigned over the government's approach to Brexit.

    Ms Coffey has previously served in a number of roles including Commons deputy leader and assistant whip.

    She backed Remain in the 2016 referendum and later voted in favour of Theresa May's Brexit deal.

    However, she has since spoken about the need to honour the referendum result and supported Boris Johnson's Tory leadership bid.

  • Robert Buckland

    Justice Secretary @RobertBuckland

    The former solicitor general moved to be prisons minister in the justice department in May 2019. He supported Boris Johnson for the leadership describing him as a "moderate, open-minded, one-nation Conservative".

    Mr Buckland campaigned to remain in the EU, but has said it is important to deliver on the result of the referendum.

    He has, however, previously spoken out against a no-deal Brexit and of the need for compromise.

    He was elected MP for South Swindon at the second attempt in 2010, overturning a Labour majority, and has subsequently held the seat with an increased share of the vote.

    He had previously practised as a lawyer specialising in criminal law and planning.

  • Anne-Marie Trevelyan

    International Development Secretary @annietrev

    The MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed replaces Alok Sharma as International Development Secretary.

    Ms Trevelyan was promoted to a role as Armed Forces minister shortly after the Conservatives’ 2019 election victory.

    An outspoken Brexiteer, she resigned from a previous junior ministerial role in November 2018 in protest at the Brexit withdrawal deal negotiated by former PM Theresa May.

    The former chartered accountant has also served on the Public Accounts Committee, responsible for scrutinising government spending.

  • Grant Shapps

    Transport Secretary @grantshapps

    The former international development minister Grant Shapps became transport secretary in July 2019.

    He was once seen as a high-flyer in the Tory party until he resigned following allegations he ignored warnings about bullying when he was party co-chairman.

    A former remainer, he has since said he is backing Brexit "as hard as you like".

    He was born in Watford and educated at a local grammar school, before going on to Manchester Polytechnic to study business and finance. He later set up his own successful printing business.

    Mr Shapps, a father-of-three, was elected MP for Welwyn Hatfield in Hertfordshire in 2005.

  • George Eustice

    Environment Secretary @DefraGovUK

    George Eustice replaces Theresa Villiers as environment secretary.

    Mr Eustice previously held ministerial posts under David Cameron and Theresa May, but resigned in 2019 in protest the latter's promise to allow MPs a vote on delaying Brexit if her deal failed to pass the House of Commons.

    He has represented the Cornish constituency of Camborne and Redruth since 2010.

  • Brandon Lewis

    Secretary of State for Northern Ireland @BrandonLewis

    Brandon Lewis replaces Julian Smith as Northern Ireland Secretary.

    The former Conservative Party chairman rejoined cabinet under Boris Johnson as home office minister in July 2019.

    Previous positions include minister without portfolio, minister for housing and and minister for immigration.

    A former barrister and leader of Brentwood Borough Council, Essex, Mr Lewis has been MP for Great Yarmouth since 2010.

  • Alister Jack

    Scottish Secretary @ScotSecOfState

    Businessman Alister Jack was elected MP for Dumfries and Galloway in 2017 and has supported what he calls "a successful Brexit for Scotland".

    He founded tent-hire and self-storage companies and is also a dairy farmer.

    His constituency includes the busiest ferry-port serving Northern Ireland.

    He was appointed assistant government whip in February 2019.

  • Simon Hart

    Secretary of State for Wales @Simonhartmp

    Simon Hart was appointed as Welsh secretary to replace Alun Cairns last November.

    Mr Cairns resigned at the start of the general election campaign amid a row over what he knew about an aide's role in the collapse of a rape trial.

    The job was a promotion for Mr Hart, who has represented Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire since 2010.

    He previously served as a junior minister in the Cabinet Office.

  • Baroness Evans

    Leader of Lords @UKHouseofLords

    Baroness Evans was appointed Lords Leader in 2016, her first ministerial role since being ennobled by David Cameron in 2014.

    She attended London's Henrietta Barnett School and Cambridge University, where she studied social and political sciences.

    She went on to become deputy director of the Conservative research department.

    She was previously deputy director of the centre-right Policy Exchange think-tank.

    She was also director of the New Schools Network, the organisation set up by Rachel Wolf, which runs the free schools programme.

  • Amanda Milling

    Party Chairman and minister without portfolio @amandamilling

    Amanda Milling replaces James Cleverly as Conservative Party chairman and will attend Cabinet as minister without portfolio.

    She was previously deputy chief whip, and was elected to Parliament as member for Cannock Chase in 2015.

    Amanda Milling is known as a key ally of Boris Johnson and worked on his leadership campaign.

  • Jacob Rees-Mogg

    Leader of the Commons @HouseofCommons

    Jacob Rees Mogg is one of the Conservative Party's highest profile Brexiteers and a key member of party's European Research Group (ERG).

    He was a constant critic of former Prime Minister Theresa May over Brexit, and has long argued that the UK would be best to leave the EU with no deal.

    Before being elected MP for North East Somerset in 2010, Mr Rees-Mogg worked in finance, originally based in Hong Kong and later moving back to London. He set up his own investment management company in 2007.

    Mr Rees-Mogg, a Catholic, is married with six children. He is against abortion and gay marriage, but it is his position on Brexit, as well as his old-fashioned dress and courteous manner, which have brought him mainstream attention.

    During the election campaign, he was criticised for saying it would have been "common sense" to flee the Grenfell Tower fire, ignoring fire brigade advice.

  • Mark Spencer

    Chief Whip @Mark_Spencer

    Boris Johnson's chief enforcer, in theory, has an easier job now the party has a large majority.

    But Mr Spencer is no stranger to the role, having served in the whips' office since 2016. He has also been given the role of parliamentary secretary to the Treasury.

    From farming family, Mr Spencer did not attend Oxbridge, unlike many of his colleagues. He attended Shuttleworth Agricultural College before joining the family farming business.

    He started his political career as a local councillor and won the Sherwood seat from Labour in the 2010 general election.

  • Suella Braverman

    Attorney General @SuellaBraverman

    Suella Braverman replaces Geoffrey Cox as attorney general.

    A strong Brexit supporter, Ms Braverman chaired the European Research Group from June 2017 to January 2018 and became a minister at the Department for Leaving the EU under Theresa May.

    She resigned in November 2018 in protest at Mrs May's draft EU withdrawal deal

    Suella Braverman has served as MP for Fareham since 2015.

  • Stephen Barclay

    Chief Secretary to the Treasury @SteveBarclay

    Stephen Barclay will attend Cabinet in a new role as chief secretary to the Treasury.

    Mr Barclay previously served as Brexit secretary under Theresa May and Boris Johnson - a position which became defunct at 11.01pm on 31 January as the UK left the EU.

    He was elected MP for North East Cambridgeshire in 2010.

Note: BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) is a term widely used in the UK to describe people of non-white descent, as defined by the Institute of Race Relations.

This is the second reshuffle for Mr Johnson, who became prime minister last July after winning a Conservative leadership election.

Big names to have left cabinet on Thursday included Chancellor Sajid Javid, Attorney General Geoffrey Cox and Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom.

The make-up of the cabinet has also changed. The proportion of women in it has increased - but the actual number has fallen from eight to seven because some positions were closed.

Private education

Members of the cabinet are more than 10 times more likely to have gone to a private school than members of the public.

Under Mr Johnson's predecessor, Theresa May, 70% of cabinet had not been privately educated, whereas almost 70% of Mr Johnson's new cabinet have.

University background

According to the Sutton Trust social mobility charity, every prime minister since 1937 who attended university was educated at Oxford - except for Gordon Brown. Half of Mr Johnson's cabinet went to Oxford or Cambridge universities.

This compares with 27% of all Conservative MPs and 18% of Labour MPs.

Sir Peter Lampl, founder and chairman of the Sutton Trust, said December's election led to a seismic shift in the political landscape and Conservative MPs now represent a more diverse range of constituencies than before.

"Yet in terms of educational background, the make-up of Johnson's cabinet is still over 60% from independent schools," he said. "Today's findings underline how unevenly spread the opportunities are to enter the elites and this is something Boris Johnson must address."

Cabinet experience

Michael Gove is by far the most experienced of Mr Johnson's new top team. The ministers who have had 204 days of cabinet experience are new faces appointed by the PM when he took power in July last year.

Click here if you cannot see the Cabinet Guide.

Related topics

More on this story