Boris Johnson to have his Cabinet top team in place 'by tomorrow night'
3 min read
Boris Johnson will have his Cabinet top team in place “by tomorrow night” after he swept to victory in the Tory leadership contest.
A source close to the incoming Prime Minister said he will spend the rest of Tuesday “finalising” the senior positions in his new administration ahead of his formal entrance to Number 10 on Wednesday.
Speaking after it was announced Mr Johnson had defeated Jeremy Hunt in the race to replace Theresa May, the senior source said he will get a reshuffle underway as soon as possible, but did not reveal any of those set to be involved.
They said his team will “try and get through as many [appointments] as possible tomorrow night”, with the expectation “between half a dozen and a dozen” names will be revealed before he ends his first day in Downing Street.
Asked whether his partner Carrie Symonds will be joining him there, they said no decision has been made and it will be “confirmed at a later date”.
Meanwhile Mr Johnson will be spending the rest of Tuesday visiting his campaign headquarters to thank his team, before finalising a speech he is set to deliver once he has been to Buckingham Palace to be formally sworn in as PM.
He is also due to make his first calls to foreign leaders on Wednesday night, but the ex-Mayor of London has already been congratulated by Donald Trump.
The US president tweeted just minutes after the result was confirmed: “Congratulations to Boris Johnson on becoming the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He will be great!”
And the man he beat, Mr Hunt, also congratulated him via social media, writing: “Congratulations Boris Johnson for a campaign well fought.
“You'll be a great PM for our country at this critical moment! Throughout campaign you showed optimism, energy and unbounded confidence in our wonderful country and we need that.
“All best wishes from the entrepreneur.”
But Mr Johnson has already been hit by a number of resignations, with Justice Secretary David Gauke following education minister Anne Milton stepping down following his victory.
Mr Gauke, who has said he could not back a no deal Brexit, tweeted his congratulations and said it was “an honour to serve in Cabinet”.
But he added he was: “Looking forward to returning to backbenches tomorrow, serving people of South West Hertfordshire.”
Meanwhile, International Development Secretary Rory Stewart also confirmed his intention to resign tomorrow, tweeting: "Congratulations Boris Johnson on becoming leader.
"Honour to serve in turn as Minister of Environment @DefraGovUK, Mid East +Asia @DFID_UK, Africa @FCO, Prisons @MoJGovUK + then Development Secretary in Cabinet +NSC.
"Backbench tomorrow serving Cumbria. Thank you all. More Walking!"
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