Culture Society, Identity and Belonging
On the last day of Westminster’s term before Easter, Rishi Sunak carried out a mini reshuffle, prompted by the resignation of two ministers and the defection of a former deputy party chairman to Reform. The timing has fuelled speculation that another challenge to Sunak’s leadership of the Conservative Party is imminent. There was no need for him to replace James Heappey, the longstanding armed forces minister, or Robert Halfon, an education minister, this side of local elections on 2 May. Both men are standing down as MPs at the next general election (taking the total number of Tory MPs quitting the Commons this Parliament to 63) but were willing to stay in government until then. A reshuffle immediately after what is widely expected to be a drubbing at the polls might have helped Sunak. The question is whether he’d have time for one.