Late summary It’s been a dramatic day in Westminster with Boris Johnson laying the groundwork for the next general election with a ruthless cabinet reshuffle, designed to clear out failing ministers and hand Michael Gove the key job of making “levelling up” a reality for sceptical voters. The Guardian’s political editor Heather Stewart reports. Johnson sacked three cabinet ministers - the blunderous, and at times disastrous, education secretary Gavin Williamson, the justice secretary Robert Buckland, and the housing secretary Robert Jenrick. Rather than being offered an alternative role, Williamson was relegated straight back to the backbenches. Liz Truss, popular with the Tory grassroots, was promoted to foreign secretary - the first female Conservative to hold the role - while Dominic Raab was shifted to the justice brief, widely seen as punishment for his role in the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan last month, and wrestled the title of deputy PM. Michael Gove was promoted to secretary of state for housing, communities and local government with responsibility for enacting Johnson’s “levelling-up” agenda across government. He will also be responsible for diffusing the row over planning reforms in Tory heartlands, protecting the union and fighting elections. The chancellor Rishi Sunak, the home secretary Priti Patel, the leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg, all remain in post. Also staying are Ben Wallace in defence, Saijd Javid in health, Kwasi Kwarteng in business, George Eustice at Defra, Grant Shapps in transport, Thérèse Coffey at DWP, Brandon Lewis in Northern Ireland, Alister Jack in Scotland, and Simon Hart in Wales. Natalie Evans remains leader of the Lords. Nadine Dorries was a surprise appointment to the role of culture secretary, given her often robust “anti-woke” agenda and her affinity to the culture wars. Nadhim Zahawi, considered a safe pair of hands, moved to the role of education secretary. Lord Frost remains as the Cabinet Office minister responsible for Brexit, and Kit Malthouse stays on as policing minister though now attends Cabinet. Greg Hands is now business minister, while Kemi Badenoch remains minister for equalities but also housing minister and foreign minister. Oliver Dowden became party co-chair, replacing Amanda Milling. Steve Barclay moves to role of Cabinet Office minister and chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, while Simon Clarke is now chief secretary of the Treasury. Alok Sharma remains as COP26 president. Here is a roundup of how some of tomorrow’s front pages are presenting the reshuffle: The Sun: “Queen Liz in... Raab is out” The Daily Express: “PM’s ruthless cull to deliver Britain’s future” The Daily Mail: “At last, Boris wields the axe” The Times: “Johnson wields axe in cabinet reshuffle” The Daily Telegraph: “Raab and Gove lose out as Truss promoted” The Daily Star: “Clowning Street massacre” The Daily Mirror: “Boris has a Cabinet clear-out” The Financial Times: “Johnson sweeps out his cabinet to revive faith in reform agenda” And The Guardian: “PM’s ruthless reshuffle lays ground for next election” PM lays groundwork for general election with ruthless reshuffle Boris Johnson has laid the groundwork for the next general election with a ruthless cabinet reshuffle designed to clear out failing ministers and hand Michael Gove the key job of making “levelling up” a reality for sceptical voters. On a day of dramatic developments in Westminster, Johnson sacked three cabinet ministers including the gaffe-prone education secretary Gavin Williamson, and shifted Dominic Raab from the Foreign Office to the Ministry of Justice. Liz Truss, the media-savvy darling of Conservative grassroots members and champion of free markets, will replace Raab as foreign secretary. The PM has just tweeted this, concluding today’s cabinet reshuffle. The new education secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, says he’s honoured to be working at the Department for Education in his new role: Children and young people have had a tough time during this pandemic and I’ll be listening to them and their families as we accelerate our work to build back better and fairer. From my own experience, I know what a beacon of opportunity this country can be and I want all children, young people and adults to have access to a brilliant education, the right qualifications and opportunities to secure good jobs. That’s both vital for them and also our economy and is more important now than ever before. I can’t wait to get started, working with the amazing teachers and staff in our nurseries, schools, colleges and universities as well as employers and businesses. And Jacob Rees-Mogg is staying as Lord President of the Council and as Commons Leader. Suella Braverman remains as attorney general. Michelle Donelan remains education minister and will also attend Cabinet, No 10 says. Simon Clarke has been appointed chief secretary to the Treasury, No 10 says. He will also attend cabinet. Nigel Adams has been appointed minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office, No 10 says. He was previously a Foreign Office minister. Kit Malthouse remains a minister in the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, Downing Street said. The ally of Boris Johnson will attend cabinet, No 10 added. With the cabinet reshuffle having somewhat overshadowed the Commons vote urging the government to cancel the cut to the £20 universal credit uplift, Labour has highlighted that sacked Tory ministers - who voted for the cut - will be handed £17,000 each in severance payments when they return to the backbenches. Ministers and other paid office holders who receive a ministerial salary are entitled to a severance payment when they leave office, which generally equals three months of their annual ministerial salary. Labour’s motion to stop the planned £1,000 a year cut to universal credit passed as the government ordered its MPs to abstain. The cut will affect one in 14 British workers and see an estimated 700,000 people plunged into poverty, including 200,000 children. Jonathan Reynolds, the shadow work and pensions secretary, said: That the government is giving payoffs to those they do not deem competent enough to be in government while cutting the incomes of millions of people is an insult to hard-working people. It is deeply regrettable that the Conservatives have chosen not to protect struggling families from the prime minister’s £1,000-a-year cut. Labour is on the side of working families and will keep pushing for the government to see sense, listen to the house and cancel this cut. Baroness Evans of Bowes Park is staying as Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the Lords, No 10 says. And George Eustice is staying as environment secretary, No 10 says. There was some doubt as to whether he would stay because it was reported earlier this year that Carrie Symonds, a conservationist and animal lover, wanted him replaced because she thinks he is not doing enough on animal welfare. That’s all from me for tonight. My colleague Lucy Campbell is taking over now. Almost all the cabinet jobs have now been confirmed or announced, although we do not know what is happening to Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, and who will replace Stephen Barclay as chief secretary to the Treasury. There has been some talk of it being Rees-Mogg, which would mean someone joining the cabinet as leader of the house.