UK Prime Minister Considering Major Cabinet Reshuffle, Reports Suggest

LONDON (Sputnik) – UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is planning to make a major reshuffle of his cabinet of ministers ahead of the national Conservative Party conference in October, The Times reported on 8 September.

According to The Times, demotions could be announced as soon as Thursday and would include Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Home Secretary Priti Patel, and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

Johnson repeatedly dodged questions about any purported cabinet reshuffle at a press conference on Tuesday evening.

He dealt with further questioning on Wednesday during Prime Minister's Question (PMQs) time in the British Parliament.

During the PMQs, Labour MP Peter Kyle questioned the PM's confidence in Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

"With a net approval rating among Tory supporters of -53, can the prime minister get to his feet, put hand on his heart and promise the country, this House and his own supporters that the education secretary is the right person for the job and he is up to the job?", Kyle asked.

Johnson responded by saying that Williamson "has done a heroic job of dealing with very difficult circumstances in which we had to close schools during the pandemic".

The competence of the cabinet members has also received the attention of online commentators.

#PMQs Labour's Peter Kyle really rattled #BorisJohnson's cage with his question about Gavin Williamson.
"Is Williamson the right person for the job?"
(Tbf - none of the tory cabinet are the right people for their jobs but still)
Johnson's response: Shouty rage & waffle. pic.twitter.com/ekFcmEQ0WZ

— Vox Populi 💙 🌹 🐾 (@VoxPopu07251706) September 8, 2021

This is appalling.@GavinWilliamson what was it about @maroitoje that made you mistake him for @MarcusRashford?

You must be the most ignorant, clueless and incapable Education Secretary in the UK's history. https://t.co/DaXpGPBzWq

— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) September 8, 2021

Williamson's aides on Wednesday revealed that the education secretary mistook a rugby player, Maro Itoje, for English footballer Marcus Rashford during a Zoom meeting.

Manchester United footballer Rashford successfully campaigned in 2020 to end child hunger in the UK by providing free school meal voucher systems for low-income children.

Both Raab and Williamson have seen a drop in their ratings in the Cabinet approval league table, run by the website Conservative Home.

Downing Street earlier said there were "no plans for any reshuffle".