PM Boris Johnson wields axe as Hunt and detractors are forced out
Boris Johnson swiftly began wielding the axe as Prime Minister by sacking detractors and squeezing out leadership rival Jeremy Hunt.
The freshly-anointed PM started a major overhaul of Theresa May's government, with more than half of her Cabinet either quitting or being sacked.
Mr Hunt was forced from his role as foreign secretary and his supporters were rounded on by the new Tory leader.
Mr Johnson sacked Liam Fox as international trade secretary and Penny Mordaunt as defence secretary, PA understands.
Both had backed Mr Hunt, while Dr Fox had gone a step further in criticising Mr Johnson's Brexit plan.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell, who previously said he would find it "extremely difficult" to serve Mr Johnson, tweeted that he was "disappointed but not surprised" to be departing.
Also leaving the frontbenches after Mr Johnson was formally appointed as PM by the Queen were Hunt-backer Damian Hinds, who was education secretary, and Business Secretary Greg Clark.
Mr Clark had recently warned that "many thousands" of jobs would be lost in a no-deal Brexit, which Mr Johnson has declined to rule out.
(4/4) But we must first undertake the momentous task of delivering on the instruction of the British people and leave the European Union. I look forward to supporting @BorisJohnson and the government from the backbenches.
— Dr Liam Fox MP (@LiamFox) July 24, 2019
Northern Ireland secretary Karen Bradley is also understood to have been sacked after Mr Johnson entered No 10.
Foreshadowing his arrival, prominent no-deal critics chancellor Philip Hammond, international development secretary Rory Stewart and justice secretary David Gauke all quit.
So did David Lidington, who was effectively Theresa May's deputy prime minister.
Mr Hunt said he would have been "honoured" to continue at the Foreign Office but decided to return to the backbenches despite Mr Johnson having "kindly offered" him a different role.
He was forced out despite saying he would happily welcome his opponent to his Cabinet during the leadership race.
I'm heading to the backbenches from where the PM will have my full support, as will my successors at @DefenceHQ & @WomenEqualities Thank you to everyone who's helped me get things done, especially our Armed Forces and civilians in defence for the last 85 days. We achieved much🇬🇧
— Penny Mordaunt MP (@PennyMordaunt) July 24, 2019
Ms Mordaunt's sacking so shortly after the Brexiteer became the first woman to head the Ministry of Defence came as a shock for many.
Secretary of state for housing, communities and local government James Brokenshire was also out, as was the much-criticised transport secretary Chris Grayling.
It is understood that Mr Grayling resigned.
Leader of the house Mel Stride was also returning to the backbenches, as was immigration minister Caroline Nokes.
