Alok Sharma becomes Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, replacing Andrea Leadsom who returns to the back benches. Esther McVey, the Housing Minister, has also lost her job in the reshuffle.
Sajid Javid resigns as Chancellor
Sajid Javid, a strong supporter of the HS2 project, has resigned as Chancellor less than a month before the Budget. He has been replaced by Rishi Sunk, who has been promoted from chief secretary to the Treasury and enters the Cabinet for the first time.
Mr Javid, who was appointed Chancellor by Boris Johnson last July, had spent this week touring media outlets talking up opportunities for the economy. He is reported to have objected to being told to sack his entire advisory team and use specialist advisers appointed by 10 Downing Street. Social media reports suggested that Johnson wanted to take effective control of the whole Treasury.
