Priti Patel, who served on Theresa May's frontbench as International Development Secretaty, is considered for a shock cabinet return as home secretary by Boris Johnson to replace former leadership rival Sajid Javid. The MP for Witham in Essex was sacked from her position in 2017, after it emerged she had unofficial meetings with Israeli ministers, business people and a senior lobbyist without the Prime Minster’s knowledge. Patel admitted her actions “fell below the high standards that are expected of a secretary of state.” Boris will be the PM who believes in Britain, says Priti Patel.
Johnson, who seeks to convince the public he is not a “British Donald Trump,” is understood to be finalising his top team in a major cabinet re-shuffle. Explaining why advisers are urging him to send Patel to the home office, a source said it would be a “clear statement to the British public that Boris will not be a British version of Donald Trump”. It would also ensure a woman in a prominent post. Johnson and the US president are friends, and the favourite for No 10 has been accused of apeing Trump’s incendiary style and racially-charged language.
The former Mayor of London is thought to be “determined” to give senior roles for Liz Truss and Nicky Morgan. Truss is understood to be the leading contender to beat Dominic Raab and Javid to become the UK’s first-ever female Chancellor. However, if Javid takes over as Chancellor, it would also be the first cabinet with two of the great offices of state filled by politicians from ethnic minorities.
Former Education Secretary, Morgan, is understood to have impressed with her “pragmatic” approach and the way she has “adapted to Brexit”. An ally of Johnson said: “The reason it could be Liz is like Boris, quite anti-convention and anti-establishment. She doesn’t like the nanny state and neither does he. He likes rebelling against convention. Liz is the same. They share a libertarian streak. Liz would be loyal to him.”
A vacancy in the government has been created after Philip Hammond confirmed his departure as Chancellor, if Johnson wins the backing of the 160,000 Tory party members. Hammond told, he could not “accept” a no deal Brexit as proposed by Johnson and insisted it is “very important” the Chancellor and Prime Minister “closely aligned” on policy. Hammond is to follow Justice Secretary, David Gauke, out of the door after he revealed he will quit the frontbench as he is not prepared “to sign up to” a no deal Brexit.
It is also understood Johnson is considering giving the crucial role of chief whip to Breixteer Iain Duncan Smith as he attempts to solve the Tory civil war. In a bid to unite the hugely divided Conservative party, Work and Pensions Secretary, Amber Rudd has called on Tory MPs they “must now come together again” or risk a Labour Government.
