Although they won’t admit it, both Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have already given serious thought to the cabinet ministers they will appoint when one of them wins the Tory leadership contest in just over a month.
Both must consider bids for senior positions made by MPs who endorsed them, ensuring factions from across the party are represented in an attempt to bring them together after a divisive contest, as well as considering who would suit each role better.
With the winner inheriting a difficult situation for the Conservatives in the polls and for the country with spiraling inflation, who is sitting around the cabinet table will be of the utmost importance in getting back on the road to recovery.
These are some of the figures proposed to be part of the first teams of the two candidates.
Liz Truss Cabinet Candidates
Almost Quarteng.
Chancellor: Kwasi Kwarteng
Truss has the support of most members of the current cabinet, who remained loyal to Johnson until the end.
Among them is the company secretary, who authored the book Britannia Unchained with Truss in 2012 and is said to be in the running to become its chancellor.
Simon Clarke.
Company Secretary: Simon Clarke
Challenged by his former boss, the finance secretary to the Treasury competes with Kwarteng to lead the department.
He has branded Sunak’s criticism of the Truss tax cuts “project fear” and is backing plans to make it happen more quickly.
If he loses his chancellor job, he could be appointed company secretary.
Therese Coffey.
Secretary of the Interior: Thérèse Coffey
The Work and Pensions Secretary has a no-nonsense attitude and is often deployed on morning media rounds by the government when championing a complicated issue.
Given his performance in the role and that he was part of Truss’s three-MP “guard of honour” when the Foreign Secretary made it to the bottom two, he is likely to remain in Cabinet.
With experience of running a large government department, she may be handed the role of home secretary.
Smart James.
Education Secretary: James Cleverly
One of Johnson’s staunchest supporters, Cleverly rose quickly to become education secretary in the latest reshuffle.
While his background is military and foreign affairs, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace is likely to stay on so he can continue in his current role.
Braverman sole.
Secretary of work and pensions: Suella Braverman
Truss, who has already been able to attend cabinet as attorney general, is also likely to offer a full cabinet job to former leadership candidate Suella Braverman to consolidate support from the party’s right.
One of the functions they promote is that of secretary of work and pensions.
Kemi Badenoch.
Level Up Secretary: Kemi Badenoch
If Truss retains the title coined by Johnson, the candidate who came fourth in the leadership race would have a strong chance of a first foray into the cabinet.
Given the amount of missed opportunities that were part of Badenoch’s presentation, it is likely that the former level minister will be offered to lead this department.
Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Brexit Opportunities Minister: Jacob Rees-Mogg
Rees-Mogg is another minister who also attends the cabinet.
Truss may be keen to keep him in a strengthened Brexit opportunity role, given his pledge to speed up his existing plans to repeal all retained EU legislation.
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Rishi Sunak Cabinet Candidates
Steve Barclay.
Chancellor: Steve Barclay
Having served in government under both the current and previous Tory administrations, Barclay would be well-placed to fill a senior role from day one.
Although he stepped in as health secretary as Johnson desperately tried to fill cabinet vacancies, Barclay supported Sunak early in the race.
He has extensive experience in the Treasury and is being talked about as a future chancellor.
Mel Stride.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury: Mel Stride
As Sunak’s campaign manager, Stride helped guide him through the parliamentary polls and emerge as the front-runner.
Although he had been on the backbenches for the past few years, given his experience heading the Treasury select committee, he would be a shoo-in for chief secretary of the Treasury.
Oliver Dowden.
Cabinet Minister: Oliver Dowden
The former Conservative co-chairman who resigned after a disastrous by-election defeat that helped bring down Johnson has also been helping run Sunak’s campaign.
Having served as Culture and Period Secretary at the Cabinet Office and the Treasury, he is likely to return to the Cabinet, possibly as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Robert Jenrick.
Secretary of Justice: Robert Jenrick
Sacked as minister last year, Jenrick has long been close to Sunak.
The pair, along with Dowden, wrote a joint editorial endorsing Johnson in the last leadership election and are a tight-knit trio.
Although he was forced to abandon controversial planning reforms when he was communities secretary, Jenrick is likely to play another role. As a former City Council lawyer, the justice secretary is one of those who have been talked about.
Gavin Williamson.
Main wood: Gavin Williamson
Another key figure who may be rewarded for his loyalty in helping run Sunak’s racketeering operation is the former education secretary.
Williamson is known as a “master of the dark arts” and, having been kicked out of government twice over a major security leak and exam chaos, may be keen to return to his role as chief whip.
Michael Gove.
Health Secretary: Michael Gove
Although he has yet to endorse a candidate, Gove was widely regarded as one of the most competent members of the cabinet and could be retained.
Although he has been sacked by Johnson to urge the outgoing prime minister to resign, Sunak may decide it is best to have an experienced pair of hands for a brief on complicated policies such as health, given the pressure on services audiences and increased scrutiny.
Penny Mordaunt.
International Trade Secretary: Penny Mordaunt
As a peace offering, the third-placed candidate in the Conservative leadership race could play a higher role.
She was previously Secretary of Defense and already serves as Minister of Commerce, so she could move on to lead the department.