General Election 2015: David Cameron’s Conservative cabinet reshuffle so far – Sajid Javid confirmed as new business secretary as Eric Pickles loses communities and local government role
Following Friday's fireworks, it's time to get down to business: the Prime Minister has set about forming the first all-Conservative cabinet in 18 years, with Sajid Javid appointed as business secretary, while Iain Duncan Smith has kept the work and pensions gig.
Meanwhile, Greg Clark dethroned his boss, Eric Pickles, to become secretary of state for communities and local government.
Aside from Gove's new role as secretary of state for justice and Grayling's job as leader of the House of Commons, the announcements so far have been fairly widely anticipated: Theresa May stays in post as home secretary, George Osborne keeps his job as chancellor and Philip Hammond stays on as foreign secretary. After a brief visit to No. 10, Boris Johnson – who was originally rumoured to be taking on the role of minister without portfolio – told reporters "my job is Mayor of London".
https://twitter.com/David_Cameron/status/597687210725515264
Bromsgrove MP Javid will be seen as a positive choice for the role: a PPE graduate and former Deutsche Bank and Manhattan Bank senior manager, he's held roles as financial secretary to the Treasury, economic secretary to the Treasury and – a rather surprise choice when it was announced – secretary of state for culture, media and sport.
Javid's only drawback is his relationship with the media: his performances on broadcast media have been seen as less than charismatic. Nevertheless, it's the sums his colleagues will be worried about.