What to expect from Boris Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle

On Thursday, Boris Johnson will reshuffle his cabinet for the first time since winning a majority of 80. Soon after the election result, there was talk of a Valentine’s Day massacre in which multiple ministers would lose their jobs. However, in recent weeks there have been suggestions that it won’t be as drastic a reorganisation as first expected. This is in part because the accompanying Whitehall reorganisation has been scaled down – though some departments are still to be merged. While conversations over the reshuffle are ongoing, certain themes have emerged.

Since MPs returned to Parliament from the Christmas recess, No. 10 have used the threat of a looming reshuffle to try to change ministers’ behaviour. As I first reported in the i paper, No. 10 prefers cabinet ministers to not parade on the media, brown nose the Prime Minister or talk for too long at cabinet. Too much time spent wining and dining the media is also frowned upon.