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Second Johnson ministry

UK government from 2019 to 2022 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Second Johnson ministry
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The second Johnson ministry began on 16 December 2019, three days after Boris Johnson's audience with Queen Elizabeth II where she invited him to form a new government following the 2019 general election. The Conservative Party was returned to power with a majority of 80 seats in the House of Commons. Initially the ministers were largely identical to those at the end of the first Johnson ministry, but changed significantly in cabinet reshuffles in February 2020 and September 2021.

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In July 2022, following a government crisis as a result of dozens of resignations from his government, Johnson announced his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party. Johnson pledged to remain as prime minister and lead a 'caretaker' government until a new Conservative Party leader had been elected. The election results were revealed on Monday 5 September 2022, and the new leader Liz Truss became prime minister on 6 September, resulting in the cabinet's dissolution.[2][3]

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History

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2019 to 2020

The Conservative minority first Johnson ministry could not implement its legislative programme due to a political impasse over Brexit. While the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 requires a two-thirds majority vote in parliament to trigger an election, Johnson bypassed this requirement by passing the Early Parliamentary General Election Act 2019. In the resulting election, held on 12 December 2019, Johnson's Conservatives won a majority of eighty seats, the largest for a government led by a Conservative prime minister since Margaret Thatcher in 1987.[4]

Initially the ministers were largely identical to those at the end of the first Johnson ministry, excepting the Secretary of State for Wales, in which position Simon Hart replaced Alun Cairns. Nicky Morgan, who stood down at the general election, and Zac Goldsmith, who lost his seat, were made life peers to allow them to remain in the government.

Johnson reshuffled his cabinet on 13 February 2020:[5] Sajid Javid, Julian Smith, Esther McVey, Geoffrey Cox, Andrea Leadsom, Theresa Villiers and Chris Skidmore all left the government.[6]

Andrew Sabisky worked as a political adviser in Johnson's office for a short time in February. Sabisky, a speaker at the secretly held London Conference on Intelligence at UCL in 2015,[7] believed that there were significant differences in average intelligence between different races, and supported enforced contraception.[8] This caused concern among politicians of all parties in the UK Parliament only a few days after Sabisky's appointment.[9] He resigned from his advisory role on 17 February 2020.[10]

2021 to 2022

The 2021 State Opening of Parliament took place on 11 May 2021.[11] Johnson conducted a cabinet reshuffle on 15 September 2021.[12] The 2022 State Opening of Parliament took place on 10 May 2022.[13] Johnson conducted another cabinet reshuffle on 7 July 2022.[14] In January 2022 researchers at Sussex University maintained Johnson's administration was more corrupt "than any UK government since the Second World War" and feared serious consequences for the UK if it continued. Professor of Anti-Corruption Practice, Robert Barrington, at the Centre for the Study of Corruption at Sussex University stated that Johnson directly influenced this by personal example and by allowing his ministers and staff to do things.[vague] Barrington feared "consequences for democracy and Britain's global influence" – Barrington feared further for the economy and national security. Barrington accused MPs or ministers that failed to act against lack of integrity of enabling it.[15] Simon Jenkins wrote "He could never handle rivals near him, and his dismissal of May's abler ministers deprived him, and the UK, of experience and ability in favour of second-rate acolytes."[16]

Confidence vote and government crisis

On 6 June 2022, Boris Johnson faced a vote of confidence in his ministry.[17] He won the vote, with 211 in favour of his premiership and 148 against.[18] Johnson was politically weakened.[18]

In July 2022, several ministers resigned from the government in response to the handling of the Chris Pincher scandal, including cabinet ministers Sajid Javid, Rishi Sunak and Simon Hart.[19] Michael Gove was sacked for disloyalty.[20]

Johnson's resignation

Following the resignations, Johnson announced on 7 July 2022 of his decision to step down as Conservative Party leader.[21] Following the completion of the leadership election for his successor on 6 September, he stepped down and was succeeded by Liz Truss.

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Cabinets

December 2019 – February 2020

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February 2020 – September 2021

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Changes

    September 2021 – February 2022

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    Changes

    • Lord Frost resigned from the government on 18 December 2021. His role as Brexit minister was taken over by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.[31]

    February 2022 – 5 July 2022

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    Changes

    5 July 2022 – 6 September 2022

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    Changes

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    List of ministers

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    Minister in the House of Commons Minister in the House of Lords
    Cabinet ministers and ministers that attend cabinet are listed in bold

    Prime Minister and Cabinet Office

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    Departments of state

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    More information Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ...
    More information Equalities Office ...
    More information Exiting the European Union (dissolved 31 January 2020) ...
    More information Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office ...
    More information Health and Social Care ...
    More information Home Office ...
    More information Levelling Up, Housing and Communities ...
    More information International Development (dissolved 2 September 2020) ...
    More information International Trade ...
    More information Justice ...
    More information Northern Ireland Office ...
    More information Scotland Office ...
    More information Transport ...
    More information Treasury ...
    More information Wales Office ...
    More information Work and Pensions ...

    Law officers

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    More information Office of the Advocate General ...

    Parliament

    More information House Leaders ...
    More information House of Commons Whips ...
    More information House of Lords Whips ...
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    See also

    Notes

    1. Formally a Minister of State at the Cabinet Office.[39]

    References

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