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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Will Maule

Boris Johnson planning to axe three top ministers in cabinet reshuffle, sources say

Boris Johnson is planning a major shake-up of his cabinet, with three ministers predicted to get the boot, reports claim.

Amongst those said to be at risk are Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan and Environment Secretary George Eustice, the Sun reported.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is also thought to have a question mark over him, with the source telling the outlet that there had been a "number of vote winning ideas that Rishi has blocked"

"Moving him at some point is on the table," they added.

Mr Sunak is unlikely to move before the next election, as Mr Johnson promised that he would deliver a Budget in the Autumn.

Mr Kwarteng drew ire from No10 last month after criticising the Chancellor's prospective plans for a windfall tax on the profits of oil and gas companies.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has been at odds with the Chancellor over windfall taxes (Getty Images)

The Business Secretary insisted that windfall taxes were a "disincentive to invest", after Mr Sunak said he was open to the windfall idea if it would encourage oil and gas companies to properly reinvest their large profits. Mr Sunak has been on the hunt for a strategy to try and mitigate the crisis over rising energy prices and the cost of living.

The Prime Minister is reported to be eyeing up a number of changes to his cabinet (Getty Images)

When asked if he flatly disagreed with the Chancellor's idea, Mr Kwarteng told Sky News: “He is the chancellor of the exchequer, he is responsible for tax policy. From my point of view, I want to see investment in the North Sea.”

He said that a windfall tax "discourages investment and the reason why we want to have investment is because it creates jobs, it creates wealth and it also gives us energy security".

Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan leaves Downing Street after attending the weekly Cabinet meeting (Getty Images)

Ms Trevelyan, meanwhile, is having “no impact” at Trade, according to the source.

Party Chairman Oliver Dowden is also reported to be out of favour with No10 after he went "missing" during Mr Johnson's recent leadership troubles.

A source said that the Party Chairman should be the PM's "chief intelligence gatherer on the mood of the party" but that Mr Dowden was "nowhere to be seen" when Mr Johnson was in difficulty.

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