British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is reportedly planning to announce a mini reshuffle of his Cabinet as soon as Tuesday.
Mr Sunak is expected to appoint a new Tory Party chairman after he sacked Nadhim Zahawi over his tax affairs more than a week ago.
The reshuffle is expected to be “relatively limited”, with a domino effect caused by the naming of a successor for Mr Zahawi, The Times reported, quoting a government source.
It said a Whitehall shake-up was also expected, with Mr Sunak considering breaking up the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy into separate ministries.
Such a move would follow his pledge during his campaign for the Tory leadership to reinstate a stand-alone energy department.
The Sun reported that business and trade could be merged, and a science and digital department created, leaving culture and sport as a separate body.
Rishi Sunak's first 100 days as prime minister - in pictures Rishi Sunak has been British Prime Minister for 100 days. Here The National looks back at his time in No 10 Downing Street. Getty Images
Mr Sunak after being announced as winner of the Conservative Party leadership contest on October 24. Getty Images
King Charles III welcomes Mr Sunak to Buckingham Palace where he invited him to become Prime Minister and form a new government. Getty Images
The new Prime Minister makes a speech outside No 10. Getty Images
Mr Sunak arrives at No 10 for the first time as Prime Minister. Photo: Simon Walker/ No 10 Downing Street
Mr Sunak holds his first cabinet meeting. Getty Images
Hosting a reception to celebrate Diwali at No 10. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street
A visit to Croydon University Hospital, south London. Getty Images
Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty wearing poppies, with a special poppy collar for their pet Labrador Nova. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street
The Prime Minister with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in the Cabinet Room at No 10. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street
King Charles, Mr Sunak, fashion designer Stella McCartney and US climate envoy John Kerry at Buckingham Palace before Cop27. Getty Images
French President Emmanuel Macron and Mr Sunak at Cop27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Getty Images
Mr Sunak during a call to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from his office. Photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street
On Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph in London. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street
Mr Sunak with journalists on a flight to Bali and the G20 meeting. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street
With Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a meeting at the G20 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia. Getty Images
Mr Sunak with US President Joe Biden at the G20 summit. Getty Images
Mr Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Getty Images
Mr Sunak meets rescue teams during his visit to Ukraine. Photo: No 10 Downing Street
Mr Sunak and his wife outside No 10 as the Christmas lights are turned on. Getty Images
Mr Sunak joins youth footballers from Wales and England to watch the World Cup match between the two nations. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street
The Prime Minister reading congratulations cards from members of the public after being appointed. Photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street
On a visit to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire after the announcement that Britain will develop next-generation fighter jets with Italy and Japan. Getty Images
Mr Sunak and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on a plane to Tallinn. Getty Images
The Prime Minister with troops at the Tapa military base, Estonia. Getty Images
The photo on Mr Sunak's official Christmas card. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street
Mr Sunak prepares and serves breakfast on a visit to The Passage homeless shelter in London just before Christmas. Photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street
Making his first major domestic speech of the year. Getty Images
On a visit to Harris Academy in Battersea, London. Getty Images
Mr Sunak and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrive at the Tower of London for a meeting. Getty Images
Toasting marshmallows on a visit to the Sea Scouts community group in Muirtown near Inverness. Getty Images
A Q&A session at The Platform in Morecambe, Lancashire, after a community visit to the Eden Project North. Getty Images
Mr Sunak and Mr Hunt at Accrington Market Hall with local MP Sara Britcliffe to announce projects under the levelling-up fund. Getty Images
Dominic Raab is expected to survive any reshuffle this week, as Mr Sunak has indicated he would wait for the outcome of an inquiry into the Deputy Prime Minister’s conduct before taking any action.
Mr Raab, who is also Justice Secretary, is being investigated by senior lawyer Adam Tolley KC over bullying allegations, with dozens of officials thought to be involved in eight formal complaints.
Mr Raab has denied the allegations.
Cabinet ministers thought to be under consideration to succeed Mr Zahawi include Business Secretary Grant Shapps, Commons leader Penny Mordaunt and Trade Minister Greg Hands.
No 10 Downing Street declined to comment on the reshuffle claims.
Rishi Sunak through the years - in pictures Rishi Sunak is Britain’s new prime minister. Here 'The National' looks back through his political career. Simon Walker/ No 10 Downing Street
Mr Sunak departs his home in London, the day after Liz Truss resigned as British prime minister. Bloomberg
Mr Sunak at Westminster Hall in London following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September. PA
Mr Sunak and Ms Truss arrive at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London, where Ms Truss was declared the new prime minister last month. PA
Mr Sunak visits his family's old business, Bassett Pharmacy, on the campaign trail in August. Getty
Mr Sunak looks at an NLAW anti-tank launcher during a visit to the Thales Defence System plant in Belfast in August. Getty
At a hustings event in Exeter in August. Getty
Celebrates England's first goal as he watches the Women's Euro 2022 final in Salisbury in July. Getty
Mr Sunak and Ms Truss take part in the BBC Leadership debate at Victoria Hall, Hanley, in July. Getty
With daughters Krisna and Anoushka and wife Akshata Murthy. Getty
Opening the Great Ayton Village Fete during the queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June. Getty
Mr Sunak and Ms Murthy speak to then-Prince Charles at a British Asian Trust event in February. Getty
Mr Sunak arrives at COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021 when he was chancellor. Getty
Holding the budget box as he departs 11 Downing Street to deliver his Autumn Budget in October 2021. Getty
At a press conference on the 2021 Budget in London in March 2021. Getty
With former prime minister Boris Johnson during a visit to PD Ports on the River Tees in March 2021. Getty
Mr Sunak poses with the budget box at 11 Downing Street in March 2021. Getty
Meeting staff back at work after being furloughed at Hamleys toy shop in London, December 2020. Photo: HM Treasury
Mr Sunak visits the Imperial Clinic Research Facility at Hammersmith Hospital, London, in November 2020. Getty
Lighting a candle for Diwali on Downing Street, November 2020. Getty
Working on a speech in his flat above 11 Downing Street in November 2020. Photo: HM Treasury
Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak visit the headquarters of Octopus Energy in London in October 2020. Getty
With his 'Winter Economy Plan' outside 11 Downing Street in September 2020. AFP
Decorating a plate at Emma Bridgewater pottery in Stoke pottery in September 2020. Getty
Promoting 'eat out to help out' on the Isle of Bute, Scotland, in August 2020. Getty
A member of the public takes a selfie with Rishi Sunak during a visit to Scotland in August 2020. AFP
Visiting a Wagamama restaurant in central London in July 2020. Photo: HM Treasury
Rishi Sunak visits a Pret A Manger in Westminster in July 2020. HM Treasury
With Mr Johnson at his first Cabinet meeting after a reshuffle at 10 Downing Street in February 2020. Getty
Mr Sunak speaks during a general election debate in Cardiff in November 2019. Getty
Mr Sunak’s pledge to govern with “integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level” when he entered No 10 more than a 100 days ago has been dented by the furore over Mr Zahawi’s financial affairs and the bullying claims against Mr Raab.
The Prime Minister sacked Mr Zahawi after an investigation by Laurie Magnus, the independent adviser on ministers’ interests, concluded that he had breached the ministerial code.
Mr Magnus found he had failed to be transparent about the multimillion-pound settlement with HM Revenue and Customs reached while he was chancellor, which included paying a penalty.
Updated: February 07, 2023, 12:01 AM