#Johnson'sCabinet

Unless there has been a massive upset Boris Johnson will confirmed as the new leader of the Conservative Party tomorrow and his appointment as prime minister will quickly follow.

One of his first tasks and a most crucial one - will be to choose his Cabinet.

For the political geek - this is a fascinating moment. What does he have to consider? Well he has to balance up the following considerations :

• Johnson wants to push through Brexit on 31st October. He needs individuals in Cabinet post who will fully back him on that. Unlike May who had a "remain" Cabinet - Johnson needs an unequivocally "leave" Cabinet - people that believe in the opportunities Brexit offers.
• He needs to reward talent and appoint people to roles that suit their abilities and interests.
• He will want to reward loyalty - those that have personally supported him.
• He will need to consider gender and ethnic balance.
• Now the complex one - as the saying goes - "keep your friends close but your enemies closer". Hunt and Gove particularly want to be Prime Minister. Their personal interests will be paramount. Rudd is a wet remainer but has a following. Clearly Hammond (who will resign before pushed) together with May and Gaulk will be anti no deal trouble on the back benches. Rudd will join them if sacked - a powerful group.
• To some extent he will be mindful of trying to unite the Tory Party - to heal the divisions the Brexit issue has caused - the blue on blue stuff. However it might be too early for that. Brexit has to be done. There might be some defections to the Liberal Democrats that are unavoidable.

Here are a few personal thoughts :

• Dominic Raab is very talented and very committed to Brexit. I would make him our lead Brexit negotiator and to bolster his status make him Deputy Prime Minister.
• Liss Truss is talented and committed and more a Thatcherite than wet. I would make her Chancellor - with gender balance in mind.
• Sajid Javid is talented and accepts Brexit. I would keep him as Home Secretary but his star rose further in the leadership contest - so if he ended up as Chancellor it would not be a surprise.
• Foreign Secretary - tricky. To demote Hunt or not ? He can do the job - he will help bring the party together. He is now publicly committed to Brexit - but he is a duplicitous weasel. FS is a massive prize and a key role. Does Hunt deserve to keep it or should it go to a more prominent Brexiteer to send a strong message ? Where would Hunt go if he is not FS ? A problem. I don't like him (see my previous blog).  
• There must be something really good for Rees-Mogg & Steve Baker and Duncan-Smith if they want it. James Cleverly has been a Brexit stalwart - and has fronted up well on a lot of media stuff. Andrea Leadsom deserves a big job. Geoffrey Cox has gravitas with a high personal reputation and came out for Boris early. Liam Fox is obviously a committed Brexiteer but he seems to lack energy (and he was a prominent Hunt supporter).
• Hancock is doing a good job at Health and stays.
• Mourdant apparently is suited to Defence, is a Brexiteer and would think she stays. However Defence is a big glamorous ministry and a star prize for someone.
• Gove is Gove - a talented minister and he is a clear leaver. He is an asset - gets things done and communicates well - but his personal ambition a liability. Tricky - but on balance it would be a massive waste not to use him.
• Stephen Barclay did pretty well as Brexit Secretary despite appearing shackled.
• Preti Patel is a leave rotweiller - uncompromising. I like here no nonsense approach as a right winger. I would want her on my side across the board. 
• Rudd is a wet Tory. She is a remainer who has made a last minute conversion to the possibility of no deal. I don't rate her but maybe she is what is needed at the dour ministry of Work and Pensions. Wouldn't be surprised if she stays because she could be trouble on the back benches.

We will know soon enough. Things are going to have to move quickly.