LONDON: For the first time in Britain’s history, there will not be a white man in one of the four great offices of state: prime minister, treasury, foreign office and home affairs.
Goan-origin Suella Braverman, former attorney general, on Tuesday night became the second Indian-origin person to be appointed as home secretary, replacing Priti Patel, who resigned soon after PM Liz Truss beat Rishi Sunak in the Conservative leadership contest. Braverman had stood to be leader of the Tory party in the contest but got knocked out early on. A barrister, she grew up in Wembley, studied law at Cambridge and campaigned for the UK to leave the EU. Her father Christie Fer nandes emigrated to the UK from Nairobi and has family roots in Assagao, Goa. Her mother, Uma, was born in Mauritius. The new PM also appointed the UK’s first black chancellor of the exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng, hitherto business secretary, who is ofGhanese heritage. This is the position Sunak had resigned from triggering Boris Johnson’s downfall. James Cleverly, born to a Sierra Leonean mother and English father, was appointed as foreign secretary, meaning there will now not be a single white male in the four great offices of state.
Ben Wallace retained his role as defence secretary and Therese Coffey was named deputy PM and health secretary. Wendy Morton becomes the first female chief whip.
Dominic Raab, Grant Shapps, Steve Barclay and George Eustice — four backers of Sunak— have all been sacked from the cabinet.
Goan-origin Suella Braverman, former attorney general, on Tuesday night became the second Indian-origin person to be appointed as home secretary, replacing Priti Patel, who resigned soon after PM Liz Truss beat Rishi Sunak in the Conservative leadership contest. Braverman had stood to be leader of the Tory party in the contest but got knocked out early on. A barrister, she grew up in Wembley, studied law at Cambridge and campaigned for the UK to leave the EU. Her father Christie Fer nandes emigrated to the UK from Nairobi and has family roots in Assagao, Goa. Her mother, Uma, was born in Mauritius. The new PM also appointed the UK’s first black chancellor of the exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng, hitherto business secretary, who is ofGhanese heritage. This is the position Sunak had resigned from triggering Boris Johnson’s downfall. James Cleverly, born to a Sierra Leonean mother and English father, was appointed as foreign secretary, meaning there will now not be a single white male in the four great offices of state.
Ben Wallace retained his role as defence secretary and Therese Coffey was named deputy PM and health secretary. Wendy Morton becomes the first female chief whip.
Dominic Raab, Grant Shapps, Steve Barclay and George Eustice — four backers of Sunak— have all been sacked from the cabinet.