PM Truss appoints Michael Ellis QC as attorney general
Ellis is only Jewish member of the cabinet following the departure of Grant Shapps as transport secretary
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Michael Ellis QC has been appointed as attorney general in new prime minister Liz Truss’s first Cabinet.
But the departure of transport secretary Grant Shapps, means Ellis is the only Jewish MP to feature in the top team.
The PM announced a string of new appointments after delivering a short speech outside Downing Street on Tuesday afternoon.
Ellis, the MP for Northampton North, has previously served as solicitor general, transport minister, and deputy leader of the Commons.
The new role is a step up from his two current roles as minister for the Cabinet Office and paymaster general.
Ellis was preferred by Truss for the attorney general role over Lucy Frazer, who is also Jewish.
She is expected to be handed a junior ministerial role on Wednesday.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan replaced Shapps in the transport role.
After being replaced, Shapps tweeted:”It has been a privilege to serve as Transport Secretary; a job I loved.
“Now I look forward to being a strong, independent voice on the backbenches, developing policies that will further the Conservative cause and the interests of my constituents in Welwyn Hatfield.”
Dominic Raab was the highest profile casualty of the Truss reshuffle, lasting less than a year in his latest position of deputy prime minister, lord chancellor and justice secretary.
He tweeted:”Thanks to the brilliant MoJ team for all their hard work over the last year. Good luck to the new PM and her team. I look forward to supporting the government from the backbenches.”
Truss gave few senior positions to those who had not supported her during the lengthy leadership contest in which she beat challenger Rishi Sunak.
In other significant appointments Kwasi Kwarteng is in as chancellor, James Cleverly is foreign secretary and Suella Braverman takes over from Priti Patel as home secretary.
Therese Coffey is the new health secretary
Nadhim Zahawi has been demoted from chancellor of the exchequer to chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, but remains a Cabinet Office minister.
Tom Tugendhat was announced as minister for security, another Cabinet role.
Michelle Donelan, former universities minister, was appointed secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has retained his job and Jacob Rees-Mogg has been appointed business secretary.
KemiBadenoch becomes international trade chief.
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