Cabinet reshuffle - as it happened: Theresa May's attempt at show of strength ruined by ministers refusing to be moved
How the Prime Minister's New Year's reshuffle happened
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May’s attempts to reassert her authority through a Cabinet reshuffle ran into difficulties after senior ministers refused to move from their jobs.
Education Secretary Justine Greening dramatically quit the Government when Ms May tried to move her to the Department of Work and Pensions, leaving the Prime Minister scrambling to promote junior ministers to her top team.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt also spent more than 90 minutes in Downing Street where he resisted Ms May's attempts to persuade him to switch to Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and allow Business Secretary Greg Clark to take on his role.
Cabinet “big beasts” such as Boris Johnson, Philip Hammond and Amber Rudd all kept their jobs, which led to critics quoting the PM's widely mocked election campaign claim that "nothing has changed" - when she made a major U-turn on a social care pledge.
Earlier, the shake-up descended into chaos when the Conservatives’ official Twitter account accidentally put out that Transport Secretary Chris Grayling would become party chairman – before Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis was officially appointed shortly after.
Former Justice Secretary David Lidington was appointed to replace the PM's close ally Damian Green, who was sacked as the Cabinet Office minister and de facto Prime Minister last month for misleading statements over pornography found on his office computer.
A younger and more diverse team of MPs was appointed to hold various Conservative party posts, although the appointment of pro-life MP Maria Caulfield to a prominent women's role attracted controversy.
Please see the live updates below
In his letter of resignation to the PM, Mr Brokenshire said he expected to be able to return to work "relatively quickly" after his operation.
But he said he recognised that he would not "be able to give the effort, energy and complete focus needed at this important time" and therefore believed that "the right thing at this time is for me to stand down from my current responsibilities".
In response, Mrs May said it was "absolutely right that you should put your health first, for your sake and that of your family".
In an apparent signal that he may be in line for a return to Government once he has recovered after surgery, the PM said Mr Brokenshire would have continued to do "a good job" had it not been for his illness, adding: "I very much look forward to working alongside you again when you are back to full health."
DUP leader Arlene Foster responds to James Brokenshire's reisgnation:
Reshuffle so far:
11:44 Chris Grayling confirmed on the Conservatives official account as party chairman
27 seconds later: Tweet deleted. Still being shared by Tory MPs, wishing Grayling congratulations.
11:58: Brandon Lewis walks in Downing Street.
12:52 Brandon Lewis confirmed as party chairman
Brandon Lewis has been made chairman of the Conservative Party and minister without portfolio, No 10 announced. He replaces Sir Patrick McLoughlin, who has resigned.
And in another turn of events, that cannot be made up, Downing Street have also deleted their tweet of Brandon Lewis's appointment.
Luckily this time it was not because they announced the wrong person - rather the original tweet made the typo: "porfolio'
Full new line up at Tory HQ:
Brandon Lewis MP - chair
James Cleverly MP - deputy chair
Chris Skidmore MP - vice chair policy
Kemi Badenoch MP - vice chair for candidates
Ben Bradley MP - vice chair for youth
Maria Caulfield MP - vice chair for women
Helen Grant MP and Rehman Christi MP - vice chair for communities
Andrew Jones MP - vice chair for business engagement
Marcus Jones MP - vice chair local government
James Morris MP - vice chair for training and development
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