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Greg Hands named trade minister after Conor Burns sacking Greg Hands named trade minister after Conor Burns sacking
(about 2 hours later)
Greg Hands has been appointed a minister in the Department of International Trade following the sacking of Conor Burns.Greg Hands has been appointed a minister in the Department of International Trade following the sacking of Conor Burns.
The Downing Street announcement comes days after Mr Burns was dismissed after a complaint of serious misconduct.The Downing Street announcement comes days after Mr Burns was dismissed after a complaint of serious misconduct.
The MP, who also had the party whip removed, denies any wrongdoing and says he looks forward to clearing his name. Mr Hands had backed Liz Truss's rival for prime minister but his appointment comes amid calls for the Tories to unite following policy disagreements.
Mr Hands said it was an "honour and a great privilege" to serve the government. He said it was an "honour and a great privilege" to serve the government.
The MP for Chelsea and Fulham previously served as a trade minister when Boris Johnson and Theresa May were at No 10. He was most recently a minister at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, The MP for Chelsea and Fulham previously served as a trade minister when Boris Johnson and Theresa May were at No 10. He was most recently a minister at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
In a tweet, he thanked Ms Truss for "the confidence" and said he was looking forward to working with International Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch.
Get behind Truss, cabinet minister urges ToriesGet behind Truss, cabinet minister urges Tories
Burns sacked after touching man's thigh, witness saysBurns sacked after touching man's thigh, witness says
Minister Conor Burns sacked after misconduct claimMinister Conor Burns sacked after misconduct claim
In a tweet, he thanked Prime Minister Liz Truss for "the confidence" and said he was looking forward to working with International Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch. Mr Hands had supported Rishi Sunak in the Tory leadership race, which ended in September with Ms Truss taking over as prime minister.
Mr Hands had supported Ms Truss' rival Rishi Sunak in the Tory leadership race. His appointment was welcomed by former Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, a fellow supporter of Mr Sunak, who tweeted that "no one is more experienced and knowledgeable than Greg Hands on trade. A welcome addition back to... government".
His appointment follows appeals by several cabinet ministers for the party to unite and rally behind Ms Truss after weeks of unrest over her policies. The addition of Mr Hands to the government follows appeals over the weekend by several cabinet ministers for the party to unite and rally behind Ms Truss after weeks of unrest over her policies.
It has been a turbulent week for Ms Truss, with interventions from former ministers and backbenchers forcing a U-turn over plans to scrap the top 45p rate of tax on the highest earners. Disagreements also emerged over calls to raise benefits in line with inflation. During the party's conference in Birmingham there have been interventions from former ministers and backbenchers forcing a U-turn over plans to scrap the top 45p rate of tax on the highest earners. Disagreements also emerged over calls to raise benefits in line with inflation.
Mr Burns was sacked and suspended as a Tory MP on Friday after eyewitnesses saw him touching a young man's thigh at a hotel bar during the party's conference in Birmingham, the BBC has been told. Speaking on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Nadhim Zahawi, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said division would delay the growth plan and risk defeat at the next election.
Mr Burns was sacked and suspended as a Tory MP on Friday after eyewitnesses saw him touching a young man's thigh at a hotel bar during the party's conference in Birmingham, the BBC has been told. The MP, who also had the party whip removed, denies any wrongdoing and says he looks forward to clearing his name.
Some of Liz Truss's Conservative critics have been making it clear that while they are not seeking to oust her, they want to see evidence of better decision making and more discussion with colleagues.
In what was seen as an olive branch to supporters of her defeated opponent, Rishi Sunak, she made Greg Hands a trade minister.
And this week she will inaugurate a series of policy lunches with MPs from each region of the country.
If this is to be a charm offensive then it is crucial that her MPs feel more charmed rather than offended.
After a shaky start to her time in No 10, she will have to convince them that she is indeed in listening mode.
One of the touchy topics will be whether to increase benefits in line with inflation, or by the lower measure of earnings.
Some of her allies are convinced she will now look for other savings from the welfare budget, rather than take the political risk of cutting benefits in real terms.
But Downing Street insists that she has not made a decision and will not rush in to doing so.