Boris Johnson's rising stars: Six politicians set to win a promotion
Priti Patel and Alok Sharma are among those set to be promoted in Boris Johnson's government, his allies have revealed.
Wednesday 24 July 2019 22:06, UK
Boris Johnson is set to unveil a "cabinet for modern Britain" today - and is expected to increase the numbers of women and ethnic minority ministers in his top team.
As the new prime minister embarks on building his cabinet, here are six MPs who are widely tipped to receive a promotion.
:: Who's set to come in - and come out - of cabinet under Boris Johnson?
Priti Patel, 47
Right-wing, pro-Leave, anti-gay marriage, pro-death penalty and once described as a "modern day Norman Tebbit". A David Cameron A-List candidate, she became MP for Witham in Essex in 2010. After junior ministerial jobs she became the Tories' first cabinet minister from an Indian family when Theresa May appointed her international development secretary in 2016. Forced to resign in 2017 over secret meetings with the Israeli government.
Alok Sharma, 51
A chartered accountant who went into banking before winning Reading West from Labour in 2010. A big supporter of Crossrail, HS2 and Heathrow expansion. Transport secretary, then? Or maybe not? He campaigned for Remain in 2016, and was a Tory vice chairman and junior Foreign Office minister before being appointed housing minister in 2017. Visibly moved in Commons debates on Grenfell Tower fire tragedy.
Rishi Sunak, 39
A businessman who inherited William Hague's super-safe Yorkshire Dales seat of Richmond in 2015. His father was a GP and his mother ran a chemist's shop. Educated at Winchester public school and Oxford University before studying at Stanford University in California. He is a junior local government minister, with responsibilities including social care, which Boris Johnson has identified as a priority.
Oliver Dowden, 40
Educated at a comprehensive school, after working for the Conservative research department and then a PR company, he became David Cameron's deputy chief of staff in Downing Street before becoming MP for Hertsmere, once the constituency of Cecil Parkinson, in 2015. He has been a big campaigner against antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment. Appointed a junior minister at the Cabinet Office last year.
Tracey Crouch, 44 today
Sports nut, qualified football coach and manager of a girls' team who was minister for sport - and later also "minister for loneliness" - from 2015 until resigning last year in protest at delaying a £2 maximum stake for fixed-odds betting terminals. Chief of staff for David Davis before winning Chatham and Aylesford from Labour in 2010. Didn't declare if she was Leave or Remain in the 2016 referendum. Anti-fox hunting and badger culling.
Robert Jenrick, 37
Grammar school boy who's one of the youngest ministers in the government. Former solicitor who won the Newark by-election in 2014 after the previous MP Patrick Mercer resigned amid a "cash for questions" furore. Pro-Remain. After being parliamentary aide to Tory ministers Esther McVey, Michael Gove, Liz Truss and Amber Rudd, he was appointed exchequer secretary in the Treasury last year.