Boris Johnson reshuffles UK Cabinet

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has reshuffled his Cabinet on Wednesday, by moving the Foreign Minister, Dominic Raab, to Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor following sustained criticism of his handling of the Afghanistan crisis.

A statement by Downing Street stated that apart from the unprecedented move, Johnson also made Raab the deputy Prime Minister, while also saw the sacking of the “gaffe-prone” Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson.

As Education Secretary, Williamson had faced fierce criticism for presiding over a crisis in schools examination results last year.

The statement added that Boris Johnson began the long-anticipated shake-up of his Cabinet by reassigning his Foreign Secretary and several other ministers in a move designed to revitalize a government whose popularity now appears to be waning.

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Raab’s standing during the evacuation of Afghanistan had been further diminished by his decision to delay returning from vacation as the Taliban took control of Kabul.

Two other senior ministers confirmed they had been removed: Robert Buckland, the former Justice Secretary, and Robert Jenrick, the Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary who were also affected.

Jenrick, as Housing Secretary, also faced criticism after approving a property project involving a Conservative Party donor, and was in charge of a proposed loosening of house-building restrictions in England that was unpopular among some Conservative lawmakers.

The reshuffle gives is said to give Boris Johnson the chance to “reshape the top echelons of his government ahead of a party conference next month at which he will try to provide a clearer post-Covid policy agenda.”