Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is said to have scaled back his next Cabinet reshuffle next month.
According to The Telegraph, the PM was planning to move ministers who said they are planning on standing down at the next election onto the back benches. This would include Defence Secretary Ben Wallce, who announced in July he wanted to go in the next reshuffle.
Wallace, MP for Wyre and Preston North, has announced he does not plan to contest the Lancashire seat when voters next take to the polls. Will Quince, the health minister, has also confirmed his plans to step down at the next election.
It is believed the next Cabinet reshuffle will still take place. It is thought it would be completed in the days before Parliament returns on September 4.
A source in the whips’ office told The Telegraph that although there was a “live discussion”, it is now expected that the focus will be on “people who want to go”. It is thought John Glen, the chief secretary to the Treasury, would be a likely replacement for the out-going Wallace.
Rumours meanwhile suggested Therese Coffey, the Environment Secretary, could be moved aside. While there was speculation Steve Barclay could have been replaced as Health Secretary, with his job being taken by current Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove.
A change of heart from the PM makes these moves less likely. The Telegraph reports that, if Glen does replace Wallace, it is though Claire Coutinho could take his old role.
She currently holds the role of children’s minister but it known to be close to Sunak. She operated as his special adviser when he was chief secretary to the Treasury.
Wallace told The Sunday Times that he would not stand at the next election. He did though rule out leaving Parliament “prematurely” and forcing another by-election.
His planned exit came after it was revealed he did not fulfil his dream of becoming secretary general of Nato. Wallace told The Sunday Times: “I went into politics in the Scottish parliament in 1999. That’s 24 years. I’ve spent well over seven years with three phones by my bed.”
Other names linked with the defence role include Tom Tugendhat, the security minister; Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Foreign Office minister; and Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the Commons. Current Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has also been tipped for the job.
If the PM does decide not to make any major changes at Cabinet level, he could reshuffle the minister-of-state ranks, which sit one rung down from the Cabinet.
The Prime Minister could also use any reshuffle to secure jobs for those thought to be rising stars of the Tory Party. This could include Richard Holden, the transport minister; Laura Trott, the pensions minister; and Victoria Atkins, the financial secretary to the Treasury.
It is however thought Chancellor Jeremy Hunt would be safe in his role. Colleagues have described him as “unsackable” as Downing Street needs to reassure the markets.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman is also believed to be staying put. Downing Street has so far declined to comment on “reshuffle speculation”.
