Theresa May has appointed her close ally Damian Green as her first secretary of state, while Priti Patel has remained the senior-most Indian-origin Cabinet minister as the British premier unveiled her new Cabinet after election results forced her to form a minority government.
The Prime Minister said that the new line-up has brought in “talent from across the whole of the Conservative party”. Her statement came after Michael Gove, one of the driving forces behind the Brexit who had been relegated to the back benches after he supported Tory leadership against May, returned to the front bench as environment secretary and one of May’s close allies Green takes charge as the first secretary of state, effectively her deputy prime minister.
Beenthru by Indian Americans Parth Shukla and Kapil Wattamwar
“Crucially I’ve brought in talent from across the whole of the Conservative party. We want a country that works for everyone,” she said in Downing Street. May said she had appointed “a Cabinet that will get on with the job of government, which is about delivering successful Brexit negotiations. And those negotiations start in a week’s time”.
Patel holds on to her position as the senior-most Indian-origin Cabinet minister and will be in charge as the secretary of state for international development in the new government, which will focus on delivering a successful Brexit.
The prime minister had already confirmed that five of her top-most Cabinet posts will remain unchanged – including Philip Hammond as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Amber Rudd as home secretary, Boris Johnson as foreign secretary, David Davis as Brexit secretary and Michael Fallon in charge of the ministry of defence.
The remaining Cabinet posts are set for a reshuffle and Greg Clark holds on to his job as secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy and David Gauke takes over as work and pensions minister.
Liam Fox stays in his post as Secretary of State for international trade, Justine Greening has been re-confirmed as Secretary of State for Education. She additionally gets the portfolio as the minister for women and equalities.
Mansimran Singh Kahlon may be the First Sikh American Elected to a State Legislature
Liz Truss appointed as the chief secretary to the treasury, with the right to attend Cabinet and Pakistani-origin Sajid Javid keeps hold of his post as secretary of state for communities and local government.
David Lidington takes charge as Lord Chancellor and justice minister and Alun Cairns as the new Secretary of State for Wales.
She has also kept Jeremy Hunt in his post as health secretary, Gavin Williamson is the new party chief Whip or parliamentary secretary to the Treasury and Chris Grayling has been appointed transport minister.
The other key Cabinet members include James Brokenshire as Northern Ireland minister, Karen Bradley as a culture, media and sports minister and Andrea Leadsom as the Leader of the House of Commons.
By Premji
