Why Liz Truss appointed Greg Hands

As MPs prepare to return to Westminster after the conference recess, the hope in 10 Downing Street is that the House of Commons will give way to calmer scenes than those at the tumultuous Conservative party conference in Birmingham. Given the number of Tory MPs lining up to rebel on various issues that may prove wishful thinking. However, overnight there has been a move by No. 10 aimed at beginning to restore party unity. Following the sacking of Conor Burns as a trade minister on Friday over allegations of serious misconduct at party conference, his successor has been named. Step forward Greg Hands.

Hands’s appointment is striking for a few reasons. As well as being an experienced minister, Hands was a key supporter of Rishi Sunak’s. Truss’s first reshuffle drew a lot of criticism from Tory MPs for not bringing enough Sunak backers and critics into the fold.