Change at the Top for UK Government

CHANCELLOR SAJID JAVID has resigned from the Cabinet as part of a significant reshuffle with new housing and business ministers also appointed.

MP for Richmond and Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Rishi Sunak has been named as Chancellor following Javid’s resignation, while Alok Sharma becomes business secretary.

Esther McVey was sacked as housing minister after seven months, with Andrea Leadsom leaving the role of business secretary.

McVey’s departure and her replacement by Chris Pincher means there have been 11 housing secretaries in the last ten years.

Both Housing and Business covers areas where responsibility is devolved to the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish governments.

Architect George Clarke said, “Back to square one with my negotiations with the government on state house building now Esther McVey has gone in the cabinet reshuffle!

“I hope this isn’t one step forward, three steps back.”

Other ministers losing their positions include environment secretary Theresa Villers, Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith, universities minister Chris Skidmore and transport ministers Nusrat Ghani and George Freeman.

Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, who was due to make a decision on the use of oral evidence in the Grenfell Tower inquiry in future prosecutions, has also been sacked.