Rishi Sunak's team has long planned a shake-up before the fall. prepares for Rishi Sunak to push through a cabinet reshuffle in the coming days as he looks to 'refresh' his front bench amid fears of a hat-trick due to by-election losses.
The PM's team had long planned a pre-fall shake-up, keeping allies of former Tory leaders Boris Johnson and Liz Truss in their first cabinet in an attempt to rally the party.
But Ben Wallace's decision to step down as secretary of defense in the next reshuffle and Three by-elections on Thursday left us wondering when to announce the change.
While Downing Street is silent, ministers, special advisers, civil servants and even ministerial drivers are speculating that there will be a reshuffle this week.
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Mr. Wallace made his take on the speculation public on Tuesday, saying at an event that a “very senior” government official told him it was going to happen this week, but stressed that he didn't know for sure.
Who should do it? replace Ben Wallace as the new secretary of defense? Polling
One source following the movements in Issue 10 told The Telegraph that dignitaries who will be involved in planning the reshuffle have been seen attending closed-door meetings.
Conservative MP hints at promotion. predicted the reshuffle would take place in the coming days, while the drivers who take care of the ministers say they are spreading rumors that it is expected on Friday.
One figure closely associated with Mr. Sunak's campaign for Tory, who is still close to No. 10, in particular, refused to discuss the topic when approached.
Indicates that the long-awaited guidance for schools, a week, may now be delayed again, some taking this as a sign that Mr. Sunak is now focusing his attention elsewhere.
A close circle of those who usually is involved in the preparations for the reshuffle – the prime minister, the chief whip and a circle of key advisers – and the resulting secrecy makes certainty difficult.
Source #10 said, “There is currently no plan for a reshuffle,” a phrase often used in anticipation of a reshuffle because it depends on when an idea or discussion becomes a “plan.”
Stories representatives of all stripes have privately outlined possible political reasons why Mr. Sunak may decide to reshuffle his cabinet this week rather than after the summer break in September.
Number 10 faces three defeats in three by-elections from the Conservatives – Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Selby and Ainsty, Somerton and Frome – on Thursday.
If that happens, it will lead to one of the toughest days of Mr. Sunak's premiership, given the questions that will arise over his election and his ability to lead the Conservatives to victory next year.
Friday's cabinet change would allow show him that he is changing his senior team and warn of the possibility of resignation.
The Prime Minister has more political space to make changes than in his first months in office, given that Mr Johnson, often touted by hardcore returners of leadership, is no longer an MP.
But some current and former ministers question whether reshuffling after by-election defeats could heighten the sense of a political crisis or a problem that needs to be addressed.
This has led some insiders to speculate that the reshuffle could happen on Wednesday or even Thursday, the day of the by-election, ahead of the results.
This would mean that MPs are in Parliament to discuss with Mr. Sunak. On Friday, MPs will convene in their constituencies, as parliament has since collapsed for the summer.
When the reshuffle happens – and it could be delayed until September – Mr. Sunak will want to “refresh” his team, according to knowledgeable sources.
Allies of Mr Johnson and Ms Truss, whom Sunak has left in positions of power, are seen as the most vulnerable, given that the urgency of uniting the party last fall has faded somewhat since then.
Downing Street in the coming months the focus will be on the fall, Mr Sunak's first conference appearance as a Tory leader, and the need to increasingly base the general election.
The next general election should be called sometime next year when a vote is expected to take place in the fall, but a surprise spring election is not entirely out of the question.
Mr Wallace, the outgoing secretary of defense, discussed speculation about the reshuffle Tuesday in a panel hosted by the Tony Blair Institute.< /p>
Responding to a question about the rumors, he said: “It depends on who you talk to at the top of the government. I spoke to a very senior civil servant who said that this is definitely going to happen this week. I spoke to a senior member of the government who said that this will not happen this week.”
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