Downing Street shake-up: who’s in and who’s out at No 10

Departures and new hires expected to give PM more direct oversight on delivery of key government priorities

A reshuffle on the Monday morning before parliament returned from recess had been long rumoured, but many in Westminster had expected a shake-up of junior ministers rather than Downing Street.

Staff in No 10 were gathered in awkward silence at 9.30am in the Pillared Room to wait for the prime minister to explain the changes, many of whom had thus far only read about them online.