2021 British cabinet reshuffle

Boris Johnson carried out the second significant reshuffle of his majority government from 15 September to 18 September 2021, having last done so in February 2020.

Cabinet-level changes

Colour key
Joined the Cabinet Left the Cabinet

	Position before reshuffle	Position after reshuffle
Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP	Secretary of State for Education	Left the government^[1]^[2]
Nadhim Zahawi MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment	Secretary of State for Education
Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP	Secretary of State for Justice Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain	Left the government^[3]^[4]
Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP	First Secretary of State Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs	Deputy Prime Minister Secretary of State for Justice Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain^[5]
Rt Hon Liz Truss MP	Secretary of State for International Trade Minister for Women and Equalities	Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Minister for Women and Equalities
Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP	Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth	Secretary of State for International Trade
Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP	Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government	Left the government^[6]
Rt Hon Michael Gove MP	Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Minister for the Cabinet Office	Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP	Chief Secretary to the Treasury	Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Minister for the Cabinet Office
Simon Clarke MP	Backbencher	Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Rt Hon Amanda Milling MP	Minister without Portfolio Chairman of the Conservative Party^{[note 1]}	Minister of State for Asia^[7]^[8]
Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP	Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport	Minister without Portfolio Chairman of the Conservative Party^{[note 1]}
Nadine Dorries MP	Minister of State for Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Patient Safety	Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Nigel Adams MP	Minister of State for Asia	Minister of State for the Cabinet Office
Kit Malthouse MP	Minister of State for Crime and Policing	Attending Cabinet
Michelle Donelan MP	Minister of State for Universities	Minister of State for Higher and Further Education Attending Cabinet

Junior ministerial changes

Colour key
Promoted^{[note 2]} Left the government

	Position before reshuffle	Position after reshuffle
Rt Hon Greg Hands MP	Minister of State for Trade Policy	Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth
Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP	Paymaster General	Minister of State for Trade Policy
Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP	Solicitor General for England and Wales	Paymaster General
Alex Chalk MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice	Solicitor General for England and Wales
James Cartlidge MP	Backbencher	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice
Luke Hall MP	Minister of State for Regional Growth and Local Government	Left the government^[9]
Kemi Badenoch MP	Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities	Minister of State for Regional Growth and Local Government Minister of State for Equalities
Helen Whately MP	Minister of State for Social Care	Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
Gillian Keegan MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills	Minister of State for Care and Mental Health
Alex Burghart MP	Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills
Andrew Griffith MP	Backbencher	Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP	Financial Secretary to the Treasury	Left the government
Rt Hon Lucy Frazer QC MP	Minister of State for Prisons and Probation	Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Victoria Atkins MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding	Minister of State for Prisons and Probation
Rachel Maclean MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding
Trudy Harrison MP	Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
Sarah Dines MP	Backbench	Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
James Duddridge MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Africa	Left the government
Vicky Ford MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Africa
Will Quince MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Welfare Delivery	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families
David Rutley MP	Lord Commissioner of the Treasury	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Welfare Delivery
Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP	Minister of State for School Standards	Left the government^[10]
Hon Robin Walker MP	Minister of State for Northern Ireland	Minister of State for School Standards
Rt Hon Conor Burns MP	Backbencher	Minister of State for Northern Ireland
Matt Warman MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital Infrastructure	Left the government
Chris Philp MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Immigration Compliance and Courts	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital Economy
Tom Pursglove MP	Assistant Government Whip	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Immigration Compliance and Courts
Rt Hon John Whittingdale OBE MP	Minister of State for Media and Data	Left the government
Julia Lopez MP	Minister for Implementation	Minister of State for Media and Data
Victoria Prentis MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Farming, Fisheries and Food	Minister of State for Farming, Fisheries and Food
Jo Churchill MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Maria Caulfield MP	Assistant Government Whip	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care
Graham Stuart MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exports	Left the government
Mike Freer MP	Comptroller of HM Household	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exports
George Freeman MP	Backbencher	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation
Maggie Throup MP	Lord Commissioner of the Treasury	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment
Lee Rowley MP	Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party^{[note 1]} Backbencher	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Industry
Justin Tomlinson MP	Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health	Left the government to become Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party^{[note 1]}
Chloe Smith MP	Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution	Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health
Neil O'Brien MP	Backbencher	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, The Union and Constitution
Caroline Dinenage MP	Minister of State for Digital and Culture	Left the government
David Duguid MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland	Left the government
The Lord Offord of Garvel	None (appointed Peer)	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland
The Baroness Berridge	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the School System	Left the government
The Baroness Stedman-Scott	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women
The Baroness Barran	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Civil Society	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Schools System
The Lord Bethell	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Innovation	Left the government
The Lord Kamall	Backbench Peer	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Innovation

Whips' Office appointments

	Previous position	New position
Marcus Jones MP	Vice-Chamberlain of HM Household	Comptroller of HM Household
James Morris MP	Lord Commissioner of the Treasury	Vice-Chamberlain of HM Household
Amanda Solloway MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation	Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
Lee Rowley MP	Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party^{[note 1]} Backbencher
Craig Whittaker MP	Backbencher
Gareth Johnson MP	Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs	Assistant Government Whip
Andrea Jenkyns MP	Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Steve Double MP	Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
James Cartlidge MP	Backbencher
Heather Wheeler MP	Backbencher
The Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen	Backbench Peer	Baroness-in-waiting
The Lord Sharpe of Epsom	Backbench Peer	Lord-in-waiting

Reaction

Demotion of Dominic Raab

There had been growing speculation that Dominic Raab would be demoted from his position as Foreign Secretary, as a result of his handling of the Taliban offensive in August 2021.^[11] On the day of the reshuffle, Raab met with the Prime Minister for a considerable length of time, having initially refused to leave the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The Financial Times reported that Raab was "throwing his toys out of [the] pram". Sources are alleged to have told Sky News that Raab was "very angry" at Johnson's decision to move him.^[12] Eventually, Raab accepted his new position as Secretary of State for Justice and was given the additional role of Deputy Prime Minister, making him the first minister to hold the office since Nick Clegg during the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition (2010–2015).^[13]

Appointment of Nadine Dorries

The appointment of Nadine Dorries as Culture Secretary was heavily criticised in the arts and culture sectors.^[14]^[15] Her promotion to the Cabinet was questioned due to her right-wing views and inexperience.^[16] Dorries was dubbed by some as the new "Secretary of State for Culture Wars", with concerns raised about her extreme views on cultural issues.^[17]^[18] Following her appointment, the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union called on the new minister to "focus more on supporting our cultural industries and less on stoking divisive culture wars".^[19]

Notable dismissals

After Robert Buckland was dismissed as Secretary of State for Justice and replaced by Dominic Raab, there was some criticism from Sir Bob Neill, chairman of the Justice Select Committee. Neill told Sky News that removing Buckland from his position was "unjust, outrageous" and that he had been "shabbily treated" by Johnson.^[20] Derek Sweeting, chairman of the Bar Council, appeared to criticise the turnover of justice secretaries, stating: "As we welcome the eighth justice secretary in the last 10 years to play this vital role, the need for a consistent and strong voice in government for our justice system could not be greater".^[21]

Alix Culbertson wrote that Gavin Williamson's sacking was of "little surprise" following his handling of GCSE grades.^[22] He was also criticised for confusing rugby player Maro Itoje with Marcus Rashford.^[23] Wes Streeting responded to reports that Williamson had been ‘tipped for knighthood’ saying "there should be no rewards for failure."^[24] On 24 September 2021, Williamson unfollowed Boris Johnson on Instagram.^[25]

Later changes

In December 2021, Wendy Morton and Chris Heaton-Harris swapped ministerial jobs (Minister of State for Europe and Minister of State for Transport).^[26]

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Non-ministerial position
^ According to the ministerial pay scale:
Parliamentary Private Secretary < Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State < Minister of State

References

^ Adam Payne (15 September 2021). "Gavin Williamson Sacked As Education Secretary". PoliticsHome.
^ Gavin Williamson [@GavinWilliamson] (15 September 2021). "It has been a privilege to serve as Education Secretary since 2019. Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, I'm particularly proud of the transformational reforms I've led in Post 16 education: in further education colleges, our Skills agenda, apprenticeships and more" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ Alain Tolhurst (15 September 2021). "Robert Buckland Has Been Sacked As Justice Secretary In Boris Johnson's Reshuffle". PoliticsHome.
^ Robert Buckland [@RobertBuckland] (15 September 2021). "It has been an honour to serve in Government for the last 7 years, and as the Lord Chancellor for the last 2. I am deeply proud of everything I have achieved. On to the next adventure" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ UK Prime Minister [@10DowningStreet] (15 September 2021). "The Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP @DominicRaab has been appointed Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice @MoJGovUK #Reshuffle" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ Robert Jenrick [@RobertJenrick] (15 September 2021). "It's been a huge privilege to serve as Secretary of State @mhclg. Thank you to everyone at the department for their hard work, dedication and friendship. I'm deeply proud of all we achieved. I will continue to support the Prime Minister and the Government in every way I can" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ Amanda Milling [@amandamilling] (15 September 2021). "It's been a privilege and an honour to be the Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party. Thank you to the voluntary party and the team at CCHQ for their support. Thank you to @BorisJohnson for this opportunity. I will continue working to deliver on our plans to level up the UK" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ "Amanda Milling back in Government". Twitter. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
^ Hall, Luke (15 September 2021). "It's been a huge honour to serve as Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government in mhclg and am proud of all we achieved. Grateful to the excellent team in MHCLG and particularly my superb Private Office. Looking forward to supporting the Government from the backbenches". Twitter. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
^ "Reshuffle: Schools minister Nick Gibb sacked". schoolsweek.co.uk. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
^ Henry Zeffman; Chris Smyth (8 September 2021). "Williamson, Patel and Raab facing demotion as prospect of snap reshuffle looms". The Times.
^ "Reshuffle live: 'Very angry' Dominic Raab demoted to justice secretary and deputy PM - with three others sacked". Sky News. 15 September 2021.
^ "UK foreign secretary Raab moved to justice minister and deputy PM". Reuters. 15 September 2021.
^ Katie Spencer (16 September 2021). "Nadine Dorries isn't afraid of fanning the culture war flames - leaving the arts sector concerned". Sky News.
^ Stephen Bush (16 September 2021). "The appointment of Nadine Dorries sums up Boris Johnson's reshuffle – but not for the reason you think". New Statesman.
^ Harry de Quetteville (16 September 2021). "Does Nadine Dorries have what it takes to be Culture Secretary?". Daily Telegraph.
^ Ayesha Hazarika (16 September 2021). "Nadine Dorries becoming Culture Secretary in the reshuffle shows Boris Johnson is still the master of outrage". inews.
^ "Nadine Dorries: a minister for the culture wars?". The Week. 23 September 2021.
^ "New Culture Secretary should support our industries, instead of stoking culture wars". BECTU. 15 September 2021.
^ Jon Craig [@joncraig] (15 September 2021). "Tory MP Sir Bob Neill, who chairs Justice select committee tells me Robert Buckland's sacking is "unjust, outrageous" and "he has been shabbily treated"" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ "Truss replaces Raab at Foreign Office with Williamson out in cabinet reshuffle – UK politics live". The Guardian. 15 September 2021.
^ "Gavin Williamson: Teaching unions 'can't pretend to be sorry' over exit of 'disastrous' education secretary". Sky News. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
^ "Gavin Williamson apparently confuses Maro Itoje with Marcus Rashford". The Guardian. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
^ @wesstreeting (17 September 2021). "There should be no rewards for failure" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 September 2021 – via Twitter.
^ "Gavin Williamson unfollowed Boris Johnson on Instagram and people are laughing at the pettiness". Indy100. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
^ "Ministerial appointments: 19 December 2021". GOV.UK. Retrieved 20 January 2022.

[a-7] Non-ministerial position

[b-10] According to the ministerial pay scale:
Parliamentary Private Secretary < Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State < Minister of State

[1] Adam Payne (15 September 2021). "Gavin Williamson Sacked As Education Secretary". PoliticsHome.

[2] Gavin Williamson [@GavinWilliamson] (15 September 2021). "It has been a privilege to serve as Education Secretary since 2019. Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, I'm particularly proud of the transformational reforms I've led in Post 16 education: in further education colleges, our Skills agenda, apprenticeships and more" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

[3] Alain Tolhurst (15 September 2021). "Robert Buckland Has Been Sacked As Justice Secretary In Boris Johnson's Reshuffle". PoliticsHome.

[4] Robert Buckland [@RobertBuckland] (15 September 2021). "It has been an honour to serve in Government for the last 7 years, and as the Lord Chancellor for the last 2. I am deeply proud of everything I have achieved. On to the next adventure" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

[5] UK Prime Minister [@10DowningStreet] (15 September 2021). "The Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP @DominicRaab has been appointed Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice @MoJGovUK #Reshuffle" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

[6] Robert Jenrick [@RobertJenrick] (15 September 2021). "It's been a huge privilege to serve as Secretary of State @mhclg. Thank you to everyone at the department for their hard work, dedication and friendship. I'm deeply proud of all we achieved. I will continue to support the Prime Minister and the Government in every way I can" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

[8] Amanda Milling [@amandamilling] (15 September 2021). "It's been a privilege and an honour to be the Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party. Thank you to the voluntary party and the team at CCHQ for their support. Thank you to @BorisJohnson for this opportunity. I will continue working to deliver on our plans to level up the UK" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

[9] "Amanda Milling back in Government". Twitter. Retrieved 15 September 2021.

[11] Hall, Luke (15 September 2021). "It's been a huge honour to serve as Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government in mhclg and am proud of all we achieved. Grateful to the excellent team in MHCLG and particularly my superb Private Office. Looking forward to supporting the Government from the backbenches". Twitter. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.

[12] "Reshuffle: Schools minister Nick Gibb sacked". schoolsweek.co.uk. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.

[13] Henry Zeffman; Chris Smyth (8 September 2021). "Williamson, Patel and Raab facing demotion as prospect of snap reshuffle looms". The Times.

[14] "Reshuffle live: 'Very angry' Dominic Raab demoted to justice secretary and deputy PM - with three others sacked". Sky News. 15 September 2021.

[15] "UK foreign secretary Raab moved to justice minister and deputy PM". Reuters. 15 September 2021.

[16] Katie Spencer (16 September 2021). "Nadine Dorries isn't afraid of fanning the culture war flames - leaving the arts sector concerned". Sky News.

[17] Stephen Bush (16 September 2021). "The appointment of Nadine Dorries sums up Boris Johnson's reshuffle – but not for the reason you think". New Statesman.

[18] Harry de Quetteville (16 September 2021). "Does Nadine Dorries have what it takes to be Culture Secretary?". Daily Telegraph.

[19] Ayesha Hazarika (16 September 2021). "Nadine Dorries becoming Culture Secretary in the reshuffle shows Boris Johnson is still the master of outrage". inews.

[20] "Nadine Dorries: a minister for the culture wars?". The Week. 23 September 2021.

[21] "New Culture Secretary should support our industries, instead of stoking culture wars". BECTU. 15 September 2021.

[22] Jon Craig [@joncraig] (15 September 2021). "Tory MP Sir Bob Neill, who chairs Justice select committee tells me Robert Buckland's sacking is "unjust, outrageous" and "he has been shabbily treated"" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

[23] "Truss replaces Raab at Foreign Office with Williamson out in cabinet reshuffle – UK politics live". The Guardian. 15 September 2021.

[24] "Gavin Williamson: Teaching unions 'can't pretend to be sorry' over exit of 'disastrous' education secretary". Sky News. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.

[25] "Gavin Williamson apparently confuses Maro Itoje with Marcus Rashford". The Guardian. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.

[26] @wesstreeting (17 September 2021). "There should be no rewards for failure" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 September 2021 – via Twitter.

[27] "Gavin Williamson unfollowed Boris Johnson on Instagram and people are laughing at the pettiness". Indy100. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.

[28] "Ministerial appointments: 19 December 2021". GOV.UK. Retrieved 20 January 2022.

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