Alex Chalk replaces Dominic Raab as Justice Secretary while Oliver Dowden becomes deputy PM

Alex Chalk was as we speak named the brand new Justice Secretary after Dominic Raab resigned the position after a report discovered he bullied his workers.

The 46-year-old had been a defence minister earlier than getting the call-up from Rishi Sunak to interchange the departing Mr Raab as head of the Ministry of Justice.

In a collection of Authorities modifications within the wake of Mr Raab’s exit, Mr Sunak has named his shut ally Oliver Dowden as his new Deputy Prime Minister.

Mr Dowden will mix the position, which is able to imply he’ll stand in for Mr Sunak at Prime Minister’s Questions when required, along with his current job as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Mr Raab had been Mr Sunak’s deputy since final October, having beforehand held the position beneath ex-PM Boris Johnson.

He confronted Labour deputy chief Angela Rayner throughout the Home of Commons despatch containers a variety of occasions when deputising at PMQs. 

In a collection of Authorities modifications within the wake of Mr Raab’s exit, Rishi Sunak has named his shut ally Oliver Dowden as his new Deputy Prime Minister

Mr Raab introduced his resignation as Justice Secretary and Deputy PM this morning after a report discovered he bullied his workers

Mr Sunak, Mr Dowden and Robert Jenrick, who’s immigration minister, have beforehand been known as the ‘three Musketeers’ at Westminster after rising by means of the Tory ranks collectively.

Mr Dowden was a key determine in Mr Sunak’s marketing campaign throughout final summer time’s Tory management contest.

He was beforehand Conservative Get together chairman beneath Mr Johnson however stop in June final yr after disastrous by-election losses in Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton.

Mr Chalk’s promotion to Cupboard for the primary time comes after he held a collection of junior ministerial roles beneath Mr Johnson after which Mr Sunak.

He entered Parliament in 2015 after being elected MP for Cheltenham, his residence city, at that yr’s common election.

The Oxford-educated former barrister was prisons minister after which solicitor common beneath Mr Johnson, earlier than being named defence procurement minister when Mr Sunak turned PM in October final yr.

On his web site, a biography of Mr Chalk  – a married father-of-three – states he’s ‘commonly described as one in every of Parliament’s ‘good guys”.

It additionally says he’s ‘thought of as an “up-and-coming” and a “rising star” of the 2015 consumption’ of Tory MPs.

Throughout his 14-year authorized profession, Mr Chalk specialised in counter-terrorism, homicide and severe fraud circumstances.

He was additionally beforehand a speechwriter for William Hague when he was Tory chief.

James Cartlidge has changed Mr Chalk within the Ministry of Defence whereas he, in flip, has been changed as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury by Gareth Davies.

In a collection of different Authorities modifications introduced as we speak, Michelle Donelan will probably be changed by Chloe Smith as Science, Innovation and Know-how Secretary whereas on maternity go away.

Sir John Whittingdale will substitute Julia Lopez as a minister on the Division for Digital, Tradition, Media and Sport whereas she additionally takes maternity go away.

Mr Sunak has risked a row along with his appointment of Mr Chalk as Justice Secretary and Mr Dowden as the brand new Deputy PM following Mr Raab’s departure.

It had been anticipated the PM would possibly use the chance of a mini-reshuffle to advertise one other girl to the highest degree of his Authorities with a view to enhance the gender stability of his Cupboard.