Another week, another set of Tory MPs announcing their retirement plans. This time it’s serving ministers. As MPs head into the Easter recess, defence minister James Heappey has ended the parliamentary term by following through on his promise to step down as armed forces minister. Meanwhile Rob Halfon has announced he is resigning as an education minister. The resignations have been taken as further proof that it is an end of an era for the Tory party and many are preparing for election defeat, with over 80 MPs now announcing they will step down.
However, it’s not over yet – with No. 10 this afternoon carrying out a mini-reshuffle to fill the vacancies:
- Nus Ghani has been appointed Minister of State (Minister for Europe) in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
- Leo Docherty has been appointed Minister of State (Minister for the Armed Forces) in the Ministry of Defence
- Kevin Hollinrake has been promoted from Parliamentary Under Secretary to Minister of State in the Department for Business and Trade
- Luke Hall has been appointed Minister of State in the Department for Education
- Alan Mak MP has been appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State jointly in the Department for Business and Trade and the Cabinet Office.
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