Diverse Cabinet. Way Ahead?

Wednesday 31st July 2019 14:35 EDT
 

Prime minister Boris Johnson has appointed the most diverse cabinet the UK has ever had. But can his ministers save the Sterling from crashing to an all-time low, fix the immigration system, clean the Brexit mess, and renew people's confidence in the country's politics and politicians?

Political pundits have placed their bets on how long the country's most “right-wing” government will last. Some cabinet ministers most notably those who were sacked or forced to resign under Theresa May's government have perhaps, received the most flak for being escalated to few of the highest positions of power. But as the cabinet surges forward to take charge of the country three months before we Brexit, Boris and his team face greater problems around spending cuts and implementing Australian style of points-based immigration. Home Secretary Priti Patel has gone on record to indicate that “only skilled, English-speaking workers are welcome” but this initiative seems to have further caused factions in an already divided UK.

“It is wrong to shut the doors for low-skilled workers. This is not just discriminatory but also self-defeating. We need our nurses, care workers and our construction builders. I think the values that migrants bring to our community go far beyond their labour and economical contributions to the UK,” said Nazek Ramadan, Director of Migrant Voice.

Migrant Voice have also recently written a letter both to prime minister Boris Johnson and Priti Patel where Nazek has sought justice for the thousands of international students whose visas had been revoked following the BBC Panorama scandal.

“I hope that our current Home Secretary builds on the work done by Sajid Javid (former Home Secretary) and finally bring justice to those students whose visas were wrongfully revoked by the Home Office. These students have gone through immense financial and emotional difficulties and some even cannot go back to their countries without these criminal charges being removed from their record,” Nazek continued.

But while immigration remains a sore subject, Javid is the new chancellor of the exchequer, and is given the task of delivering the prime minister’s tax and spending pledges this autumn. Johnson expects him to break the austerity of the past decade and ensure that money is available, even at the risk of higher public borrowing. According to observers, Johnson appears to be doing two things- revving up the economy to gain support for his plans with a fallback that increased spending could somehow bear the brunt of a no-deal departure. But, the Sterling has already dropped to an all time low in the last two years hitting at $1.21 against the dollar in the prospect of a no-deal Brexit and closing at Rs. 83.80 against the Rupee as we go to press on Tuesday. Analysts in a Brexit driven economy believe the exchange value for Sterling could slip to as low as Rs 70. What remains to be seen is how long can will this volatile cabinet last and what would these cabinet players be successful in delivering?

KEY CABINET PLAYERS:

Sajid Javid – Chancellor of the exchequer: The former home secretary always seemed set for a high-ranking position in Johnson’s cabinet. He is the first ever Asian to have acquired the top-position as chancellor, replacing Philip Hammond and was a successful investment banker until he was elected as an MP for Bromsgrove in 2010.

Priti Patel - Home Secretary: Indian origin Priti Patel is a prominent Brexiteer to take account in the cabinet as home secretary. The 47-year-old former international development secretary, has supported Johnson in the leadership contest, describing him as the only person who can save Brexit and the Tories. Patel resigned from the cabinet in November 2017 following a row over unauthorised meetings with Israeli politicians. She was first elected to the seat from Witham, Essex, in 2010, after working for several years in PR for the Conservative Party, as well as lobbying for tobacco and alcohol industries. She also campaigns for capital punishment.

Alok Sharma- International Development Secretary: Alok Sharma is another Indian origin in Johnson's cabinet as International Development Secretary. The former employment minister and MP for Reading West backed Johnson for prime ministership. He said he believed Johnson was the only candidate who could deliver on Brexit. Prior to being elected in 2010, he qualified as a chartered accountant and worked in banking.

Rishi Sunak will also attend cabinet as chief secretary to the Treasury.

Dominic Raab - Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State: Dominic Raab is appointed as foreign secretary and first secretary of state. The MP for Esher and Walton worked as an in-house lawyer for the Foreign Office in 2000 has now returned as head of the department. It's a major promotion for Raab, who has just four months of experience in the Cabinet after his stint as Brexit Secretary last year. After being knocked out in the Tory leadership race on a hardcore Brexiteer ticket, he quickly backed his former rival Johnson and supported him in his campaign. Raab is in favour of a no-deal Brexit and replaces Jeremy Hunt.

Michael Gove - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster: Michael Gove has been made Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster – effectively minister without portfolio. Like Johnson a former newspaper columnist, Gove has represented the safe Surrey Heath seat since 2005. After a junior spell on the shadow front benches, he was made education secretary by David Cameron in 2010. Gove became environment secretary in June 2017 and he proved a key advocate of May’s Brexit deal, while other Brexiteer cabinet ministers resigned.

Ben Wallace- Defence Secretary: Formerly the security minister in the Home Office has been named Defence Secretary. An MP for almost 15 years and a frontbencher for 12, Wallace will nonetheless be one of the lesser-known figures in Johnson’s new cabinet, where he has replaced Penny Mordaunt. From 1999 to 2003 he was a member of the Scottish parliament. In 2005 he won the Lancaster and Wyre seat. From 2007 he worked in the Scotland and Northern Ireland offices, and as a whip, before entering the Home Office when May became PM.

Gavin Williamson - Education Secretary: The state-educated South Staffordshire MP, who studied social sciences at the University of Bradford, has made an astonishing return to the Cabinet as Education Secretary. The former Defence Secretary was sacked just three months ago for leaking secrets from a National Security Council meeting. As a former chief whip, with an in-depth knowledge of the Tory party machinery, Williamson was a key member of Johnson’s campaign team.

Matt Hancock - Health and Social Care Secretary: Matt Hancock stays in one of the hardest job in government as Health and Social Care Secretary despite aiming volleys of criticism at Johnson while running against him for the leadership. As chief of staff to Osborne before entering parliament in 2010, Hancock was closely associated with the Osborne–Cameron circle, and rose steadily through junior ministerial ranks under the coalition and beyond. When May took over in 2016, he might have expected a return to the backbenches, but was spared.

Andrea Leadsom - Business Secretary: One of Conservatives’ most prominent female politicians, and an ardent Brexiteer, Andrea Leadsom has been appointed as business secretary. The 56-year old, who worked in investment banking for more than 20 years entered Parliament in 2010 to represent the newly created seat of South Northamptonshire. She served in cabinet as environment secretary from 2016-17 and then as leader of the House of Commons. Leadsom resigned as leader of the House of Commons on 22 May, saying she had lost faith with the government’s plan for Brexit.

Liz Truss - International Trade Secretary: Liz Truss, a staunch ideological supporter of Johnson, is named international trade secretary to the Treasury. The MP for South West Norfolk since 2010 was briefly justice secretary before moving to the Treasury. She was second-in-command at the Treasury in the last cabinet and had previously served as Environment Secretary and was the first female Lord Chancellor between 2016 and 2017. Truss was elected to Parliament in 2010 after serving as deputy director of think tank Reform.

Robert Jenrick - Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government: A big promotion for the youngest member of Johnson’s cabinet, and the most recent arrival in Westminster. The former lawyer, 37, entered parliament in 2014 in the Newark by-election, caused by the resignation of the incumbent MP, Patrick Mercer. Jenrick has been on the Tory front bench for even less time, taking a junior Treasury role at the start of 2018.

Grant Shapps - Transport Secretary: Shapps has been rewarded for his role helping Johnson’s successful leadership campaign. His previous roles include being both Tory party co-chairman and a Cabinet Office minister from 2012 to 2015, when he became a minister at the Department for International Development. A former remainer, he has since said he is backing Brexit "as hard as you like".

Other appointees who will also attend cabinet

Johnson’s brother Jo is appointed minister of state at the department for business, energy and industrial strategy and the department for education. Arch-Brexiter Jacob Rees-Mogg was made Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons., as will Esther McVey, who becomes minister of state at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Chris Skidmore, minister of state for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation. Geoffrey Cox stays on as attorney general, while Mark Spencer is chief whip. Brandon Lewis has been appointed a Home Office minister. Oliver Dowden was named paymaster general and minister for Cabinet Office. Kwasi Kwarteng becomes minister of state at BEIS. Munira Mirza who was a deputy mayor for Johnson throughout his time at City Hall, has been recruited to be head of Number 10’s policy unit. They will all attend cabinet, according to Downing Street.

Stephen Barclay, Matt Hancock and Amber Rudd keep their jobs as Brexit secretary, health secretary and work and pensions secretary respectively. Former chief whip Julian Smith has been appointed Northern Ireland secretary, Alister Jack becomes Scottish secretary, and Alun Cairns will remain Welsh secretary. James Cleverly becomes the Conservative party chair. Robert Buckland QC is appointed lord chancellor and justice secretary and Nicky Morgan becomes secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport.

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