Sunak is also expected to break up two departments to better suit his pledge to spur the economy and turn around his party’s fortunes before an election likely next year.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has started a reshuffle of the members of his government, shortly after marking his 100th day in office.
Conservative leader Sunak is expected to break up two departments to better suit his pledge to spur the economy and turn around his party’s fortunes before an election likely next year.
The timing of this mini-reshuffle has surprised some in his party, but after firing his party chairman over his tax affairs and with an investigation into bullying allegations against his deputy prime minister, Dominic Raab ongoing, several lawmakers said PM Sunak might be seizing a chance to stamp his mark on his government.
Raab denies the allegations.
UK media reports that the department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will be broken up.
One source said Sunak was planning to merge the business arm of BEIS with the trade department and to create a new science and digital unit by bringing together the digital arm of DCMS with the science and innovation part of BEIS.
The prime minister is also expected to name the new chair of the party, a position made ever more important before the next national election expected in 2024, after Nadhim Zahawi was sacked over his tax affairs.
It has been reported that London MP, and former minister, Greg Hands will get this job.
Downing Street declined to comment ahead of official announcements expected during the day on Tuesday.
Since entering Downing Street in October, Sunak has been under pressure to assert his authority not only on his government but also over his party, which ousted two prime ministers last year over scandals and economic chaos.
He has so far failed to reduce the commanding lead in the opinion polls held by the opposition Labour Party, which is increasingly presenting itself as Britain’s next government.
In January, Sunak promised to tackle Britain’s most serious problems, from cutting inflation to reducing illegal migration, in a move aimed at convincing his lawmakers he can lead them into the next election.