UK cabinet reshuffle: Indian-origin Rishi Sunak & Priti Patel retain roles in top team

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on September 15 undertook a reshuffle of his top team, retaining two of his senior Indian-origin ministers Rishi Sunak and Priti Patel in UK Cabinet. While Sunak will continue next door to PM Johnson at Downing Street as his Chancellor of Exchequer and Patel, who was at centre of speculation of being removed, retains in her office as Home Secretary.

Rishi Sunak set to continue in UK Cabinet

Sunak, son-in-law of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, has been in his post since February 2020 and has led UK's financial response to COVID-19 pandemic. On or hand, Patel, whose parents are of Gujarati-Ugandan descent, has been Home Secretary since July 2019. Sunak was first elected to UK Parliament in 2015 and has previously served as Chief Secretary to Treasure.

Also, among senior minister being shuffled around include Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who accepted a demotion to take charge as new Justice Secretary, alongside his or roles of Lord Chancellor and Deputy Prime Minister. Raab, who was in troubled waters over his handling of aftermath of fall of Afghanistan to Taliban and evacuation efforts from Kabul, h been at Centre of speculation about his future as he of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), one of top-most-Cabinet posts in British government. He was replaced by Liz Truss, promoted from her role of International Tre Secretary. Earlier this week, she concluded latest round of tre talks with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

Earlier, Downing Street stated PM Johnson would be reshuffling his top team to 'put in place a strong and united team to build back better from pandemic." restructuring was anunced after weekly Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) session in House of Commons, with news of sackings coming in first followed by fresh appointments of shuffled ministers. Lower Ministerial offices will be finalised on September 16.

Im: AP