Amber Rudd makes dramatic return to Cabinet as Stephen Barclay named as new Brexit secretary

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Amber Rudd has made a dramatic return to the Cabinet as work and pensions secretary as Theresa May seeks to bolster her position following a backlash to her Brexit deal.

She is set to replace Esther McVey who resigned her position on Thursday in protest at Theresa May's Brexit plans.

Meanwhile, Leave-supporting Stephen Barclay has been promoted to Brexit Secretary from a ministerial role in the Department for Health.

The reshuffle came just hours after Michael Gove offered the Prime Minister a lifeline by staying on in his Cabinet role.

Amber Rudd arrives to Downing Street earlier this year
AFP/Getty Images

Ms Rudd has been a source of stability to the Prime Minister in the past, stepping in for Mrs May during the live TV debates in the run-up to the General Election last year.

The MP for Hastings and Rye had to resign from her post as Home Secretary earlier this year over the Windrush scandal.

Ms Rudd tweeted after the announcement, saying she was looking forward to "getting stuck in".

She said: "A great honour. Look forward to getting stuck in."

In an interview with broadcasters Ms Rudd urged Tory colleagues sending in letters of no confidence in Theresa May to "think again".

She said: "This is not a time for changing our leader.

"This is a time for pulling together, for making sure we remember who we are here to serve, who we are here to help: that's the whole of the country.

"I worry sometimes colleagues are too concerned about the Westminster bubble rather than keeping their eye on what our job is - to serve people."

Ms Rudd added that she was confident Mrs May would survive as Prime Minister, saying: "I think she has demonstrated this week her complete commitment to making sure she serves the people she was elected to so do.

Stephen Barclay Conservative MP
Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament (Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0))

"She has come forward with a really practical response to leaving the European Union. I think it's the right combination."

It comes after senior ministers including Ms McVey and former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab quit in protest at the EU withdrawal agreement that was passed by Mrs May's Cabinet on Wednesday night.

In a further reduction to the Brexit Secretary's duties, it was revealed that Theresa May will in future take sole control of negotiations on EU withdrawal.

She will personally oversee the last 10 days of negotiations with the EU on the future relationship, while Mr Barclay will focus on the "domestic readiness for Brexit and getting Mrs May's draft withdrawal agreement through parliament."

"He will be doing the domestic role," Mrs May's spokesman said.

Michael Gove has said he is confident in the PM
Getty Images

At least 21 Tory MPs are said to have sent no confidence letters to the Tory party's 1922 committee demanding a vote on Mrs May's leadership.

Environment Secretary Mr Gove insisted he still has confidence in Mrs May who has suffered a series of setbacks following the publication of her draft Brexit deal with Brussels.

She has suffered the loss of four ministers and faces continued speculation that a vote of no confidence in her leadership could be triggered by Tory MPs within days.

Ms Rudd was a prominent Remain campaigner during the referendum and her return to the Cabinet, in place of Brexiteer Esther McVey who resigned on Thursday, may do little to bridge divides within the Tory ranks.

Ms Rudd resigned earlier this year in May, after she admitted she "inadvertently" misled MPs on immigration targets.

In her letter of resignation to the Prime Minister, she admitted she should have been aware of information provided to her office making clear such targets did exist, adding: "I take full responsibility for the fact that I was not".

Mr Barclay qualified as a solicitor before working in financial regulation and then financial crime prevention. He was director of regulatory affairs and then head of anti-money laundering and sanctions at Barclays bank before he became an MP.

His appointment came after Mr Gove reportedly turned down the post after saying he would only take it if he could renegotiate the EU withdrawal agreement.

Speaking outside his departmental office, Environment Secretary Mr Gove was asked if he had confidence in the Prime Minister and replied: "I absolutely do."

He added: "I am looking forward to continuing to work with all colleagues in Government and in Parliament to get the best future for Britain."

A Downing Street spokeswoman said Mrs May was "very pleased" that Mr Gove will stay on and "continue doing the important work he is doing".

Pro-Remain Brexit rebel Stephen Hammond will replace Mr Barclay at the Department of Health and Social Care, Downing Street said.

The Wimbledon MP was sacked as Conservative vice-chairman in December after backing a rebel amendment calling for Parliament to be guaranteed a meaningful vote on the Brexit deal.

Brexiteer Kwasi Kwarteng will move from the Treasury to replace Suella Braverman, who followed Dominic Raab out of the door on Thursday.

And former tourism minister John Penrose has been made a minister in the Northern Ireland office to replace Shailesh Vara, who also resigned on Thursday.

Steve Barclay, the newly-appointed Brexit Secretary, commented on his appointment on Twitter.

"Delighted to accept role at DExEU," he said. "We now need to keep up the momentum to finalise the Withdrawal Agreement & outline political declaration & deliver a Brexit that works for the whole UK.

"Looking forward to working with a talented team of ministers & officials to do just that."

Additional reporting by Press Association

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