Claire Coutinho is a revealing choice as Energy Secretary

Rishi Sunak has completed his very mini reshuffle with the appointment of Claire Coutinho as Energy Secretary, the role left vacant by Grant Shapps’s move to the Ministry of Defence. Coutinho leaves her role as a minister in the Department for Education and becomes the first of the 2019 intake to make it to the cabinet.

Her speedy rise will come as little surprise to her parliamentary colleagues. She is a key Sunak ally, having worked for him as a special adviser when he was Chief Secretary to the Treasury. On entering parliament, Coutinho served as Sunak’s PPS. The Brexiteer – and former banker – backed him in both leadership contests and is someone the Prime Minister trusts deeply.

That said, it’s still a big promotion – and likely to cause some disappointment verging on annoyance among those longer-serving ministers still waiting for a cabinet role. They will be hoping that the promise of a wider reshuffle after party conference in October comes good – and that it takes place sooner rather than later.