Sajid Javid has quit as Chancellor after Boris Johnson ordered him to fire his closest aides.

The Prime Minister had been expected to keep Mr Javid in post as part of his reshuffle today, and news of his resignation less than a month before the first post-Brexit Budget shocked Westminster.

Rishi Sunak, Mr Javid's former deputy at the Treasury, has now been appointed to the role of Chancellor.

Allies of the former chancellor said Mr Javid refused to sack his team of special advisers, something that Mr Johnson made clear he would have to do if he wanted to remain in 11 Downing Street.

Mr Sunak will take the job, having reportedly agreed to a joint Number 10-Number 11 team of advisers.

The bombshell came after long-standing rumours of tensions between the ex-chancellor and Mr Johnson's closest aide Dominic Cummings.

His departure came after:

  • Julian Smith was sacked as Northern Ireland Secretary
  • Andrea Leadsom was sacked as Business Secretary
  • Theresa Villiers lost her job as Environment Secretary
  • Geoffrey Cox was sacked as Attorney General
  • Esther McVey lost her job as Housing Minister

Home Secretary Priti Patel, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, International Trade Secretary Liz Truss, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Work and Pensions Secretary Thérèse Coffey have all been confirmed in their existing roles.

Downing Street has previously confirmed that Grant Shapps will stay on as Transport Secretary.

Suella Braverman has been promoted to Attorney General.

The new Business Secretary has been confirmed as Alok Sharma, who has been promoted from international development.

He will also be minister for the Cop26 UN climate summit.

Henri Murison, director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: "The North has a new holder of one of the great offices of state.

"As the MP for Richmond in Yorkshire, Rishi Sunak has been a steadfast supporter of closing the North-South divide, demanding us to be competitive, seek excellence in what we do and attract investment in our economy.

“We look forward to continue working closely with him as we have done in his role as Chief Secretary.”

Meanwhile, Anne-Marie Trevelyan joins the Cabinet as International Development Secretary, having previously been a defence minister.

Oliver Dowden has become a full Cabinet member as Culture Secretary, having previously attended the meetings as paymaster general.

Until Mr Javid's exit, the most surprising move by the Prime Minister had been the sacking of Mr Smith just weeks after brokering the deal which restored the powersharing administration in Stormont.