Theresa May sacks Michael Gove, other senior Tory leaders

London, July 14: New British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday sacked Michael Gove as Justice Secretary and replaced him with Liz Truss, a day after her surprise appointment of lead ‘Leave’ campaigner and former London Mayor Boris Johnson as the new Foreign Secretary.

Gove — who was one of the leading figures in the campaign to leave the European Union — stood for the Conservative leadership, but was elimited in the fil round of voting by MPs in third place, BBC reported.

His surprise move to stand for the leadership and therefore to become Prime Minister effectively dashed Johnson’s hopes of running.

His replacement at the Ministry of Justice, Truss, was previously Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

In other appointments, May replaced Education Secretary Nicky Morgan by ex-Intertiol Development Secretary Justine Greening. Greening’s department is to also take on higher and further education, skills and apprenticeships.

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale has also been sacked, while Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has stayed in his post, BBC added.

Meanwhile, Stephen Crabb has also resigned as Work and Pensions Secretary, saying the move is “in the best interests of my family”. May has told European leaders she is committed to Britain leaving the EU. On Wednesday Boris Johnson was made Foreign Secretary while Philip Hammond was appointed Chancellor. Johnson said he was “very humbled, very proud to be offered this chance”. He said he was “very,very surprised” to have been offered the job of Foreign Secretary.

Amber Rudd is Home Secretary, and Eurosceptic David Davis has been made the new Brexit Secretary. On Wednesday, May entered Number 10 Downing Street and began a reshuffle which started with George Osborne being told he would not be a part of the new government and was being replaced by former Secretary of State Philip Hammond.

Liam Fox, another senior Brexit supporter, was made Intertiol Trade Secretary.

Michael Fallon, an early supporter of May for the Party leadership, remained as Defence Secretary. (IANS)