Conservative MP Mark Garnier has lost his job as trade minister just weeks after being cleared by an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female member of staff.
The Wyre Forest MP said in a tweet that he was “very sad” to have lost his job at the Department for International Trade as Theresa May embarked on the second day of her Government reshuffle.
Last month a Cabinet Office probe in allegations Mr Garnier used derogatory language to his secretary and asked her to buy sex toys found that he did not break the ministerial code.
His dismissal on Tuesday came as Mrs May’s Cabinet met for the first time since a misfired reshuffle of top jobs on Monday, which saw Justine Greening walk out as education secretary rather than accept a move to work and pensions, while Jeremy Hunt turned down the PM’s offer of the business brief, insisting instead on an expanded health and social care role.
Despite widespread criticism of the Cabinet shake-up, newly-appointed Tory chairman Brandon Lewis insisted the party is “not quite” in a mess.
Mr Lewis told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “What we have seen yesterday is a real influx of new talent, not just my position itself, obviously.”
Pressed on whether the party is in a mess, Mr Lewis replied “not quite” but admitted there was a “job of work” to be done.
After the conclusion of a Cabinet Office investigation into the allegations, Mrs May said that “a line should be drawn under the issue”.
In a tweet on Tuesday morning, Mr Garnier said: “Very sad to have lost my job at @tradegovuk but looking forward to supporting @theresa_may Government from the backbenches.”
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Mrs May was facing calls to be more courageous in bringing about change and diversity to refresh the look of the Government.
After a day of little movement in the top ranks, and many social media mistakes, veteran Tory grandee Sir Nicholas Soames tweeted: “I don’t mean to be rude or to be seen to be disloyal but there needs to be a major improvement to the Reshuffle tomorrow #doitwell.”
Former Tory chairman Grant Shapps, who was accused of trying to oust Mrs May after last June’s disastrous election for the Conservatives, told BBC Newsnight: “Clearly, to be blunt, it wasn’t a brilliantly executed performance with the reshuffle today.”
There were few new faces around the Cabinet table on Tuesday, as the “big four” of Chancellor Philip Hammond, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Amber Rudd and Brexit Secretary David Davis all remained in place.
So too did Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, Business Secretary Greg Clark and Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom, despite widespread speculation that Mrs May would demote them.
Ms Greening, who could now become a backbench Brexit thorn in the Prime Minister’s side, was succeeded as Education Secretary by Damian Hinds.
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The job Ms Greening turned down, Work and Pensions Secretary, was given instead to Esther McVey, who triggered controversy when she was a junior minister in the department under David Cameron.
The big winner of the shake-up was former justice secretary David Lidington, who replaced Damian Green as Minister for the Cabinet Office, but was not awarded the title of First Secretary of State enjoyed by his predecessor.
However, Mr Lidington will fill in for Mrs May at Prime Minister’s Questions and take on some of the responsibilities for chairing influential Cabinet committees, including some relating to Brexit.
Other casualties of the second day of the reshuffle included Scarborough and Whitby MP Robert Goodwill, who loses his job as minister for children and families, Philip Dunne (Ludlow), who is removed as health minister and John Hayes (South Holland and the Deepings), who is leaving the Department for Transport.
Downing Street has yet to provide official confirmation of the latest round of changes.