Theresa May shuffles her cabinet; British eyes waiting for new leaders

London, January 8: British Prime Minister Theresa May is on the mode to shuffle its cabinet’s top leaders. From major changes in her top team, including Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson given new roles, to a more modest shake-up of junior ministerial ranks, speculation embraces every level at 10 Downing Street.

Sir Patrick McLoughlin, a minister as far back as the Thatcher government, is set to be replaced having overseen the general election campaign that ended with the Tories losing their majority. Several new faces are expected to be appointed to the ministerial lineup.

But Philip Hammond, Boris Johnson, Amber Rudd and David Davis are among key figures expected to stay in place. Other current ministers reported being vulnerable include Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom and Business Secretary Greg Clark.

Prime Minister May is also planning to include more women ministers in her cabinet as till now only there are six in total twenty-three members of her top team.

She is also under pressure to preserve the balance between Brexit sceptics and enthusiasts while showing the government has a purpose beyond leaving the EU, which critics say is monopolizing ministers' time.

The changes, which will be PM May's third reshuffle since becoming PM in July 2016, were triggered by her sacking of Damian Green last month as the first secretary of state.