Brexit Series: Theresa May might reshuffle Cabinet to solidify her position as PM

The UK Prime Minister Theresa May hinted that a cabinet reshuffle is on the way as she  looks to strengthen her position as a party leader where several members are working to oust her as prime Minister.

Grant Shapps, former Conservative chairman, had emerged as a leader of the plot to oust Theresa May last week. He said that party members are well within their rights to call for the Prime Minister to quit. According to him up to 30 Conservative Party members supported the move to oust her, which was a real danger for Prime Minister May and her ability to pass legislation as she leads a minority government where very vote counts.  However, Mr. Shapps attempt to gather signatures to trigger a Conservative leadership election seems to have run out of steam as many of his fellow conservatives turned against him and rebuked for the effort.

However, many in the Conservative Party feels that a shakeup of top leadership is required to energize the party members after a failed snap election, where the party lost its outright majority and the main opposition Labour Party strengthened its position. During an interview, Prime Minister May said, “I’m the PM and part of my job is to make sure I always have the best people in my cabinet, to make the most of the wealth of talent available in the party”.

It is being speculated that the foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who is one of top Brexiteers could be sacked in the Cabinet reshuffle, who created several recent controversies over his approach towards Brexit, which in some cases are in starkly different than the one adopted by the government. Though, recently in a Conservative conference he pledged his allegiance to Prime Minister May, putting forward his own vision of Brexit might cost him his job.