The Tory leadership favorite will also oust Dominic Raab, the current deputy prime minister, along with health secretary Steve Barclay, environment secretary George Eustice and House of Commons leader Mark Spencer, according to The Telegraph. Former chancellor Rishi Sunak, who is competing with Ms Truss in a bitter rivalry to replace Boris Johnson, will also not be invited to her new cabinet, the paper said. Michael Gove announced he was leaving the political frontline last week, but is reportedly being relegated to the background. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, a Johnson loyalist and Mr Sunak supporter, faces a nervous wait to find out if he will keep his job. Ms Truss will replace the 15 ministers expected to step down from the front bench with loyalists and rising stars such as Kemi Badenoch if she can defeat her rival Mr Sunak in the race for No 10 in September. Liz Truss plans to keep the ax if she wins the leadership race (PA) The home secretary is said to be replaced by Shwela Braverman, but sources close to Ms Patel are hopeful she will be able to retain her role. An ally of Ms Patel told The Telegraph: “She wants to stay at the Home Office and is not really interested in another role at the moment because she wants to finish the job she started. “This will be a government that is fighting on all fronts and needs people who can put out fires elsewhere so it can focus on the crisis in the economy and the cost of living. “Prithi Patel’s political skills should not be underestimated and there should be room for her in the next cabinet.” Whoever does land a job in the new cabinet faces a baptism of fire as the country faces a devastating cost-of-living crisis, looming recession, soaring inflation and ongoing problems as a result of Brexit.
