Sunak ministry

British government from 2022 to 2024

The Sunak ministry began on 25 October 2022 when Rishi Sunak was invited by King Charles III to succeed Liz Truss as prime minister of the United Kingdom. Truss resigned as leader of the Conservative Party the previous day after Sunak was elected unopposed as her successor. The Sunak ministry was formed from the 2019 Parliament of the United Kingdom, as a Conservative majority government. Sunak reshuffled his cabinet twice, first in February 2023 and later in November 2023.

On 22 May 2024, Sunak announced a general election on 4 July,^[1] in which the Labour Party won a landslide victory, leading to the formations of the Starmer ministry and the Sunak shadow cabinet.^[2]

Cabinets

October 2022 – February 2023

Changes

• Gavin Williamson resigned as Minister of State without Portfolio on 8 November 2022.^[4] This followed allegations that he used improper language to former Chief Whip Wendy Morton and had bullied several staffers during his time as a Cabinet minister under Theresa May.^[5]
• Nadhim Zahawi was dismissed as chairman of the Conservative Party after an investigation said he had committed a "serious breach of ministerial code" over his tax affairs.^[6] He was replaced by Greg Hands, who was a Trade Minister prior to this appointment.^[7]

February 2023 – April 2023

Changes

• Dominic Raab resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary on 21 April 2023 after an inquiry into allegations of bullying.^[9] He was replaced as Deputy Prime Minister by Oliver Dowden and as Justice Secretary by Alex Chalk.^[10]

April 2023 – November 2023

Sunak's cabinet in December 2022

Changes

• Ben Wallace resigned as Defence Secretary on 31 August 2023. Wallace stated that he was resigning to "invest in the parts of life that I have neglected, and to explore new opportunities".^[11] He was replaced by Grant Shapps, who was Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero prior to being appointed as Defence Secretary.^[12] Shapps was replaced as Energy Secretary by Claire Coutinho, who was a junior minister in the Department for Education at the time, Coutinho herself being replaced by backbencher David Johnston.^[13]
• Michelle Donelan was appointed Minister on Leave on 28 April 2023, she was temporarily replaced as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology by Chloe Smith. Donelan was reappointed Science Secretary on 20 July 2023.

November 2023 – July 2024

Changes

• Suella Braverman was sacked as Home Secretary on 13 November 2023 and was replaced by James Cleverly and David Cameron was made Foreign Secretary.
• Robert Jenrick resigned as Minister of State for Immigration on 6 December 2023, citing the Rwanda Bill's failure to allow the government to override the international laws that have stopped the government sending asylum seekers to central Africa.^[14] He was replaced in cabinet by Michael Tomlinson, as Minister of State for Illegal Migration
• Graham Stuart resigned as Energy Minister on 12 April 2024 to spend more time focusing on local issues.^[15] He was replaced by Justin Tomlinson.^[16]
• Andrew Mitchell was made Deputy Foreign Secretary on 12 April 2024.^[16]

List of ministers

Prime Minister and Cabinet Office

Departments of state

Law officers

Parliament

2023 August mini-reshuffle

On 31 August 2023, Sunak carried out a mini-reshuffle.^[17] Ben Wallace resigned as Secretary of State for Defence and was replaced by Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Grant Shapps.^[18] Shapps was replaced by Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children, Families and Wellbeing Claire Coutinho.^[19] The new children's minister was announced as backbencher MP David Johnston.^[20]

2024 March mini-reshuffle

On 26 March 2024, Sunak carried out a mini-reshuffle.^[21] Robert Halfon resigned as Minister of State for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education and was replaced by Luke Hall.^[22] James Heappey resigned as Minister of State for the Armed Forces and was replaced by Leo Docherty.^[23] Nus Ghani was appointed the new Minister of State for Europe in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.^[24] Kevin Hollinrake was promoted to minister of state in the Department for Business and Trade but kept his responsibility for the postal affairs portfolio.^[25] Alan Mak was promoted to being a parliamentary Under-Secretary of State jointly in the Department for Business and Trade and the Cabinet Office.^[26] In terms of internal appointments to the Conservative Party, backbench MPs Jonathan Gullis and Angela Richardson were made deputy party chairs.^[27]

Departures from the Sunak ministry

This is a list of departures from the Sunak ministry since forming a government on 25 October 2022. This list omits ministers who were invited to leave the government during the November 2023 cabinet reshuffle.

Ministers

Non-ministerial appointments

Non-ministerial appointments

Parliamentary Private Secretaries

Prime Minister's Office

Party Officers

Second Church Estates Commissioner

References

1. "UK general election: Rishi Sunak calls snap July vote — as it happened". POLITICO. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
2. "UK general election results live: Labour set for landslide as results come in across country". BBC News. 4 July 2024. Archived from the original on 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
3. "Ministerial Appointments: 25 October 2022". GOV.UK. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
4. Crerar, Pippa; Mason, Rowena (8 November 2022). "Gavin Williamson quits cabinet after claims of 'unethical and immoral' behaviour". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
5. "Gavin Williamson resigns after chief whip messages scandal". the Guardian. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
6. "Nadhim Zahawi committed a serious breach of ministerial code, says Sunak". BBC News. 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
7. Culbertson, Alix (7 February 2023). "Cabinet reshuffle: Greg Hands replaces Zahawi as Conservative Party chairman in Sunak's first reshuffle". Sky News. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
8. "Key appointments in Rishi Sunak's cabinet reshuffle". The Guardian. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
9. "Dominic Raab lashes out at 'flawed' bullying inquiry as he quits". BBC News. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
10. Scott, Jennifer (21 April 2023). "Oliver Dowden becomes new deputy PM and Alex Chalk new justice secretary after Raab resignation over bullying report". Sky News. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
11. Allegretti, Aubrey (31 August 2023). "Ben Wallace resigns as defence secretary". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
12. Scott, Jennifer (31 August 2023). "Grant Shapps appointed UK's new defence secretary, Downing Street says". Sky News. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
13. Brown, Faye (31 August 2023). "Who is Claire Coutinho? Rising star of Tory party becomes energy secretary". Sky News. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
14. Rajeev Syal and Kiran Stacey (6 December 2023). "Robert Jenrick quits frontbench over Rwanda bill, piling pressure on Sunak". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
15. McKiernan, Jennifer (12 April 2024). "Graham Stuart quits role as energy security and net zero minister". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
16. "Ministerial Appointments: 12 April 2024". GOV.UK. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
17. Ambrose, Tom; Hall, Rachel; Bryant, Tom (31 August 2023). "Grant Shapps appointed defence secretary as Claire Coutinho takes energy brief in mini-reshuffle – as it happened". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
18. "Is Rishi Sunak surrounding himself with people who tell him what he wants to hear?". Sky News. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
19. "Claire Coutinho: Who is the new energy secretary?". BBC News. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
20. "David Johnston named as new children's minister". CYP Now. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
21. "Ministers Robert Halfon and James Heappey quit government in mini-reshuffle". BBC News. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
22. "Luke Hall named education minister after Halfon resignation". Times Higher Education (THE). 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
23. McDaid, Lucy (26 March 2024). "Outgoing Wells MP James Heappey quits as Armed Forces Minister". ITV News. Political Correspondent, ITV News West Country.
24. "Ministerial Appointments: 26 March 2024". GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
25. "Two Government Ministers Quit In Fresh Blow For Rishi Sunak". HuffPost UK. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
26. "Robert Halfon unexpectedly quits as minister in fresh headache for Rishi Sunak". The Independent. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
27. "Jonathan Gullis named as new deputy chair of Conservative Party". BBC News. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
28. "Sir Gavin Williamson resigns after allegations of bullying". Sky News. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
29. "Work and pensions minister quits for 'personal reasons'". City A.M. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
30. "Nadhim Zahawi sacked as Tory chairman over tax affairs row". Sky News. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
31. MacAskill, Andrew; Smout, Alistair; Ravikumar, Sachin; Ravikumar, Sachin (21 April 2023). "UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab resigns after bullying probe". Reuters. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
32. "Ministerial Appointments: June 2023". GOV.UK. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
33. "Welsh Tory quits UK government over sex education law". BBC News. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
34. "Zac Goldsmith resigns after criticism over Partygate probe". BBC News. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
35. McKeon, Christopher (18 September 2023). "Levelling up minister Dehenna Davison quits due to chronic migraine". Evening Standard. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
36. "Paul Bristow: Ministerial aide sacked after call for Israel-Gaza ceasefire". BBC News. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
37. Dathan, Matt (6 December 2023). "Robert Jenrick 'resigns as immigration minister over Rwanda policy'". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
38. "Rishi Sunak faces key Rwanda vote after Tory deputy chairmen resign". BBC News. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
39. "Junior ministers Robert Halfon and James Heappey quit government". BBC News. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
40. "Graham Stuart quits role as energy security and net zero minister". BBC News. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.