London politics news LIVE: Boris Johnson announces reshuffle as he refuses to apologise over Savile smear

Downing St says reshuffle will improve links between No10 and Parliament

Downing Street has claimed that today’s mini Cabinet reshuffle will improve links between No 10 and Parliament.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “As the PM said last week, it is important that we both make immediate changes to improve both how the No 10 operation works and the work of the Cabinet Office, and further changes to strengthen Cabinet government and improve that vital connection between No 10 and Parliament.

“The changes being made today will strengthen that connection. We have changes to the whips’ office, improving engagement with MPs and helping to drive the Government’s ambitious agenda.

“We have a new Brexit opportunities minister, a role that’s been created to drive forward the changes we are able to make now that we have left the EU, delivering on our post-Brexit agenda across Whitehall.”

Sturgeon warns of ‘dangerous’ moment for British politics

Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned that the abuse directed at Sir Keir Starmer after Boris Johnson’s Savile smear could represent a “dangerous” moment in British politics.

She said: “Credit to Keir Starmer and to David Lammy, who will know more than most of us about these far right attacks, for the way they conducted themselves.

“I have had some experience personally of being confronted on the streets by the far right, it’s not pleasant, it’s deeply unpleasant, and I’m sure they will have been deeply shaken by it.

“I think they deserve credit for the way in which they handled it.”

She added: “This is a moment to decide that this is not acceptable in our politics.

“Tough scrutiny of politicians is essential in our democracy but when that crosses the line and becomes the stirring up of hate and abuse, something has gone far wrong and that’s a moment to draw a line in the sand and say we cannot allow this to continue.”

Rees-Mogg says he ‘does not recollect’ giving PM Savile jibe

New Brexit minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has he did not recollect feeding the Prime Minister the debunked jibe about Sir Keir Starmer failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile while the Labour leader was director of public prosecutions.

Asked about a report in the Sunday Times that suggested he gave Boris Johnson the idea for using the attack line in the Commons last week, he told Conservative Home’s The Moggcast: “That isn’t my recollection.

“What was going on at the time was a very noisy chamber and people were shouting things out.

“I think it came from behind us, but it seemed to me a perfectly fair point to use.”

He added: “I certainly mentioned the point about journalists in the back and forth across the chamber, but I think it came from behind both of us.

“I wasn’t sitting next to the Prime Minister, so I wasn’t in a particularly good position to be feeding him lines.”

Cleverley becomes minister for Europe

Another move in today’s reshuffle just announced.

James Cleverly MP will become Minister of State (Minister for Europe) in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) as part of the shake-up of the Government frontbench, Downing Street said.

Still going…. Heather Wheeler moves to Cabinet Office

MP Heather Wheeler will be a parliamentary secretary in the Cabinet Office.

This is in addition to her current role as an assistant government whip.

Still going…. Heather Wheeler moves to Cabinet Office

MP Heather Wheeler will be a parliamentary secretary in the Cabinet Office.

This is in addition to her current role as an assistant government whip.

Michael Ellis to be minister for the Cabinet Office

Michael Ellis will attend Cabinet after having the role of Minister for the Cabinet Office added to his existing post as Paymaster General.

New Chief Whip announced

Chris Heaton-Harris has been appointed as the new Chief Whip, Downing Street said.

Deputy Chief Whip moves to housing

Stuart Andrew has lost his role as Deputy Chief Whip, moving to become Minister of State for Housing in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Mini Cabinet reshuffle sees Mark Spencer become Commons leader

Mark Spencer has been moved from Chief Whip to Commons leader as part of Boris Johnson’s reshuffle, No 10 said.