Johnson purges cabinet on first day as PM

Boris Johnson’s first priority on ascending to the position of Prime Minister seems to have been purging the ranks of all those tied to his political opponents.

A total of seventeen ministers were either fired from their positions or resigned on Wednesday. These included Johnson’s rival candidate in the PM race, Jeremy Hunt, who resigned rather than accept a demotion.

The Trade and Defense Secretaries, Liam Fox and Penny Mordaunt, who supported Hunt in the contest, were also given the boot.

Johnson’s new administration has been filled with Brexit hardliners, such as Priti Patel, the new home secretary who as an MP previously argued for causing food shortages in Ireland as a means to gain leverage against the EU in negotiations.

The UK’s new foreign secretary is Dominic Raab, notably the most confrontational of the three Brexit secretaries appointed under Theresa May.

Gavin Williamson, who was fired from his position as defense secretary earlier this year after leaks, will now serve as education secretary under Johnson.