Oliver Letwin sacked in cabinet reshuffle
Jewish minister joins Michael Gove, Nicky Morgan and John Whittingdale on the backbenches as Theresa May appoints new government
Patrick Maguire is a reporter at the Jewish News.
Oliver Letwin, one of only two Jewish cabinet ministers, has been sacked from his post as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
The Cabinet Office minister, who had been appointed to oversee Brexit negotiations by former Prime Minister David Cameron, is among four senior members of the government to have been dismissed by Theresa May this morning.
Letwin – popularly regarded as Cameron’s ‘fixer’ – was sacked along with ex-justice secretary Michael Gove, former culture secretary John Whittingdale and sacked education secretary Nicky Morgan.
Gove has been replaced at the Ministry of Justice by former environment secretary Liz Truss, with international development secretary Justine Greening moving to education.
The outgoing quartet join ex-chancellor George Osborne on the backbenches in a dramatic reshaping of the cabinet.
Divisive health secretary Jeremy Hunt is also believed to have left his post – but is set to be offered a new job in the Prime Minister’s new-look top team.
The future of the other Jewish member of the cabinet – Conservative Party deputy chairman and minister without portfolio Robert Halfon – remains unclear.
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