In a move that indicates British Prime Minister Liz Truss's intent to bridge the divides in the Conservative Party, she has given a government role to Greg Hands, who backed her rival Rishi Sunak in the Tory leadership race.
As Ms Truss prepares to make a plea for unity to colleagues returning to Westminster, this appointment will be widely regarded as a peace offering to those who have accused her of surrounding herself with allies.
After a chaotic first month of her premiership, Ms Truss faces pressure from MPs to clarify her economic policies, such as whether benefits will be cut in real terms to pay for a swathe of tax cuts.
Sajid Javid, a former cabinet minister and Truss backer, said on Monday that benefits should rise in line with inflation and that Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng should set out a much-anticipated financial plan as soon as possible.
Seasoned minister Mr Hands replaces Conor Burns, who was sacked from his post in the Department for International Trade on Friday after a misconduct complaint.
Mr Burns has vowed to clear his name and said he would “fully co-operate” with a Tory investigation into claims of inappropriate behaviour.
Mr Hands’s appointment was welcomed by fellow Sunak supporter Grant Shapps, who was rumoured to be monitoring party unrest behind the scenes.
“No one is more experienced and knowledgeable than Greg Hands on trade,” he tweeted.
“A welcome addition back to @trussliz government.”
“Greg was one of Rishi’s most high-profile backers," a government source said.
“This is a very clear signal from the PM that she wants to unify the party and bring everyone back together.
“Greg has been a vocal supporter of the PM’s economic plan. He’s competent and well-liked across the party.”
Mr Hands has extensive experience in the trade department, having held the minister of state post twice before Sunday’s appointment.
He most recently served in the department for business, energy and industrial strategy, and has also been chief secretary to the Treasury.
British Prime Minister Liz Truss - in pictures
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Britain's Prime Minister Liz Truss during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons in London, addressing Parliament for the first time since abandoning her disastrous tax-slashing economic policies. Here, 'The National' looks at her time in power so far. AFP -
Liz Truss speaks to Grant Shapps at Downing Street as he is appointed Home Secretary, after the resignation of Suella Braverman. Photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street -
A mural by artist Ciaran Gallagher in Belfast is updated to reflect Liz Truss's current political troubles. PA -
Britain's new Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt announcing tax and spending measures at the House of Commons in London, with Liz Truss sitting on the bench behind him. AFP -
Liz Truss gives a speech after sacking Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor of the exchequer. Reuters -
A protest by climate change group Extinction Rebellion in central London. Ms Truss has said the group is part of an 'anti-growth coalition' with trade unions and the main opposition Labour Party. AFP -
Ms Truss has come under increasing pressure during her short time as prime minister. AFP -
An Extinction Rebellion protest outside Downing Street on the day Mr Kwarteng was removed from the government. AP -
Ms Truss with members of the England women's football team and the European Championship trophy in Teddington, south-west London. Getty -
Ms Truss arrives for a meeting of the European Political Community at Prague Castle in the Czech Republic. AP -
Ms Truss and her husband Hugh O'Leary wave after her keynote speech at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. AP -
Liz Truss gives a speech at the Conservative Party Conference. EPA -
Ms Truss meets with Mr Kwarteng, chancellor of the exchequer at the time. Photo: Andrew Parsons / CCHQ -
Ms Truss and Mr Kwarteng visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham. AFP -
Ms Truss meets US President Joe Biden for talks at the UN headquarters in New York. PA -
Ms Truss delivers a speech at the 77th session of the General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York. AP -
The British prime minister holds a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York. Reuters -
Ms Truss meets French President Emmanuel Macron at the UN headquarters in New York. Reuters -
Ms Truss speaks to the media during her visit to the Empire State building in New York. AP -
Britain's new leader speaks during the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey, London. PA -
Ms Truss and her husband Hugh O'Leary observe a minute's silence at Number 10 Downing Street following the death of the queen. Reuters -
Britain's Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and Ms Truss leave after a service for the reception of Queen Elizabeth's coffin at Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster. AFP -
Ms Truss joins the Speaker Lindsay Hoyle and selected MPs to take the oath and swear allegiance to King Charles III in the House of Commons chamber. PA -
King Charles during his first audience with Ms Truss at Buckingham Palace, London, following the death of Queen Elizabeth. Getty Images -
Ms Truss gives a reading during a service of prayer and reflection, following the passing of Queen Elizabeth, at St Paul's Cathedral in London. Getty Images -
The British prime minister makes a statement outside 10 Downing Street in London following the queen's death. Bloomberg -
Ms Truss speaking during her first weekly Prime Minister's Questions session at the House of Commons in London. AFP -
Front pages of a selection of British national newspapers, each leading with a story about Ms Truss becoming Britain's new prime minister. AFP -
People walk past an image in central London of Ms Truss on the side of a protest bus calling for a citizens' assembly. Reuters -
Ms Truss holds her first Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street. Reuters -
Ms Truss speaks at Downing Street on the day she took over as prime minister from Boris Johnson. EPA -
Ms Truss poses with her husband Hugh O'Leary at Downing Street before entering as prime minister for the first time. EPA -
Ms Truss is welcomed by staff in Downing Street as she enters the famous prime ministerial offices for the first time. Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street -
New Health Secretary Therese Coffey and Number 10 staff shelter from a downpour as they wait for Ms Truss to arrive in Downing Street. PA -
Liz Truss makes a speech outside 10 Downing Street, London, after meeting Queen Elizabeth II and accepting her invitation to become prime minister and form a new government. PA -
Queen Elizabeth II greets the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party, Ms Truss, at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The queen invited Ms Truss to become prime minister and form a new government. Getty Images
Ms Truss is in line for a new test as Parliament returns for the first sustained period since the death of Queen Elizabeth II last month.
She had been in office for just two days when the announcement from Buckingham Palace brought a political pause until after the state funeral, with MPs only briefly returning to the Commons three weeks ago before rising again for the conference recess.
Ms Truss must now win over colleagues unnerved by the impact of the mini-budget that was squeezed in before the break, and the humiliating U-turn on tax that followed.
It is understood she will urge MPs to unite when they return to Westminster this week.
Mr Hands said it was “an honour and a great privilege” to be part of the government.
“Thanks Prime Minister Liz Truss for the confidence — and looking forward to being back at @tradegovuk,” he wrote on Twitter.
Cabinet ministers have called on the party to come together or risk sacrificing the keys to No 10 to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Tension was still running high before the appointment on Sunday, as a senior Tory MP warned the mood in the party was “febrile”, with many backbenchers, and members of the government, “very concerned at where we are in the polls”.
Ms Truss is likely to face more pressure to raise benefits in line with inflation, and on other dividing issues, after Conservative critics forced her mid-conference retreat on slashing income tax for the highest earners.
UK government's new Cabinet appointments - in pictures
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Liz Truss and her new team congregate round the cabinet table. AP -
Special adviser Sophie Jarvis arrives for new British Prime Minister Liz Truss's first Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in London on Wednesday. Ms Truss has made sweeping changes to the UK government after becoming leader on Tuesday. -
Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng arrives for the new Cabinet meeting. AFP -
Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg arrives for the new Cabinet meeting. Getty Images -
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, front, arrives for the new Cabinet meeting. AP -
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan arrives for the new Cabinet meeting. Reuters -
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Ranil Jayawardena arrives for the new Cabinet meeting. AP -
Deputy Prime Minister and Health Secretary Therese Coffey arrives for the new Cabinet meeting. Reuters -
Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan arrives for the new Cabinet meeting. Reuters -
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly arrives for the new Cabinet meeting. Getty Images -
Home Secretary Suella Braverman arrives for the new Cabinet meeting. Reuters -
Attorney General Michael arrives for the new Cabinet meeting. AP -
Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack arrives for the new Cabinet meeting. AP -
Education Secretary Kit Malthouse arrives for the new Cabinet meeting. AP -
Kwasi Kwarteng has been appointed chancellor of the exchequer. Reuters -
Therese Coffey has been appointed deputy prime minister and health secretary. EPA -
James Cleverly has been appointed foreign secretary. PA -
Suella Braverman has been appointed home secretary. AFP -
Brandon Lewis has been appointed lord chancellor and justice secretary. PA -
Ben Wallace has been reappointed defence secretary. Reuters -
Jacob Rees-Mogg has been appointed secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy. PA -
Kemi Badenoch has been appointed international trade secretary and president of the Board of Trade. PA -
Nadhim Zahawi has been appointed chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Reuters -
Alok Sharma has been reappointed as Cop26 president. EPA -
Simon Clarke has been appointed secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities. EPA -
Chloe Smith has been appointed work and pensions secretary. PA -
Michelle Donelan has been appointed secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport. AFP -
Penny Mordaunt has been appointed leader of the House of Commons. PA -
Ranil Jayawardena has been appointed secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs. Alamy -
Anne-Marie Trevelyan has been appointed transport secretary. Bloomberg. -
Wendy Morton has been appointed chief whip. Bloomberg -
Chris Heaton-Harris has been appointed Northern Ireland secretary. AFP -
Robert Buckland has been reappointed as Welsh secretary. PA -
Alister Jack has been reappointed Scottish secretary. PA -
Michael Ellis QC has been appointed attorney general and will attend Cabinet. AFP -
Tom Tugendhat will attend Cabinet as security minister in the Home Office. PA
Nadhim Zahawi, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, sought to quell disquiet in Tory ranks on Sunday as he warned “delay is our biggest enemy”.
Mr Zahawi said colleagues must “focus” on delivering for the country, as any “dither” will “end in defeat” for the party.
A Downing Street source said the “cold, hard reality” is that the Tories must “get behind Liz” or wind up with a “monstrous coalition of Labour and the SNP”.
