UK’s new Prime Minister (PM) Rishi Sunak named his Cabinet hours after assuming office. Two nominees raised eyebrows as they were not allocated any ministries.
Sunak rewarded two of his allies Nadhim Zahawi and Sir Gavin Williamson with Cabinet appointments without giving them ministries to run.
Zahawi, an Iraqi-born British politician, was appointed Chairman of the ruling Conservative Party and Minister without Portfolio by Sunak on 25 October 2022.
Zahawi was finance minister for a brief period from July to September under Boris Johnson after Sunak resigned from that role, triggering a rebellion against the former Prime Minister.
Sir Gavin Williamson is returning to government, with the Sunak ally rewarded with a role in the Cabinet.
The former Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) becomes a minister without a portfolio in Sunak’s new Cabinet.
Below is a list of all the positions Rishi Sunak has filled so far:
Jeremy Hunt, chancellor (Finance Minister).
Dominic Raab, deputy PM and justice secretary.
James Cleverly, foreign secretary.
Ben Wallace, defence secretary.
Suella Braverman, home secretary.
Steve Barclay, health secretary.
Oliver Dowden, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Grant Shapps, business secretary.
Penny Mordaunt, leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council.
Gillian Keegan, education secretary.
Nadhim Zahawi, Conservative Party chairman and minister without portfolio.
Kemi Badenoch, trade secretary.
Mel Stride, work and pensions secretary.
Michael Gove, levelling up secretary.
Michelle Donelan, culture secretary.
Therese Coffey, environment secretary.
Chris Heaton-Harris, Northern Ireland secretary.
Alister Jack, Scotland secretary.
David Davies, Wales secretary.
Simon Hart, chief whip.
Lord True, leader of the House of Lords.
Victoria Prentis, attorney general.
Jeremy Quin, paymaster general and cabinet office minister.
Mark Harper, transport secretary.
John Glen, chief secretary to the Treasury.
Johnny Mercer, veterans’ affairs minister.
Tom Tugendhat, security minister.
Gavin Williamson, minister without portfolio.
Robert Jenrick, immigration minister.
Andrew Mitchell, development minister.
Sunak’s decision to appoint two CSs without a portfolio mirrors a similar move by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta who in February 2018 appointed Raphael Tuju as a Cabinet Secretary without a portfolio.
Tuju became the first minister without a portfolio in Kenya’s post-independence history.
The only other minister without a portfolio to serve in Kenya was former Chief Justice Chunilal Madan who was appointed in 1956 during the colonial era.
Uhuru’s move to appoint Tuju a CS without a portfolio attracted mixed reactions as Kenyans tried to figure out what value Tuju’s position would add to a bloated Cabinet that added to the taxpayers’ wage bill burden.
Tuju was a CS without a portfolio in Uhuru’s Cabinet until the former President retired in September 2022 and handed over power to his successor William Ruto.
