Moving ministers: what makes a good reshuffle?

Institute for Government

Boris Johnson’s priority was clear when he appointed his first cabinet in 2019: delivering Brexit. Now, months after the UK has left the Brexit transition period, and a year into a global pandemic, the prime minister is reportedly planning to reshuffle his ministerial team. What should the prime minister be looking for as he plans to reshuffle his cabinet? What lessons can be learnt from previous reshuffles? Who might we see in the next cabinet? And what is it like being a minister during a reshuffle? On the panel to discuss these questions were: Katy Balls, Deputy Political Editor at The Spectator Salma Shah, former Special Adviser to Sajid Javid Ben Riley-Smith, Political Editor at the Daily Telegraph The Rt Hon Lord Young of Cookham, former Leader of the House of Commons and Chief Whip The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Associate Director at the Institute for Government.