second Johnson ministry

{{about|the people in Boris Johnson's second government|the events of Boris Johnson's second term as prime minister|Premiership of Boris Johnson#Second Term (December 2019 – September 2022)}}

{{Infobox government cabinet

|incumbent = 2019–2022

|image = Prime Minister Boris Johnson Weekly Cabinet Meeting (52226643111).jpg

|caption = Johnson's cabinet in July 2022

|date_formed = 16 December 2019

|date_dissolved = 6 September 2022

|government_head_title = Prime Minister

|government_head = Boris Johnson

|government_head_history = Premiership of Boris Johnson

|deputy_government_head = Dominic Raab (2021–2022)

|other_government_minister_title = First Secretary

|other_government_minister = Dominic Raab (2019–2021)

|state_head_title = Monarch

|state_head = Elizabeth II

|members_number = 120{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works|title=Ministers|website=GOV.UK|access-date=31 March 2021|archive-date=31 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331103231/https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works|url-status=live}}

|former_members_number =

|former_members_resigned =

|political_party = {{Unbulleted list | {{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Conservative Party}}

|legislature_status = Majority {{Composition bar|365|650|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|background-color=|border border-color=darkgray|width=|per=1}}

|legislature_term = 2019–2024

|budget = {{unbulleted list

| 2020 budget

| March 2021 budget

| October 2021 budget

}}

|opposition_cabinet = {{unbulleted list

| Corbyn Shadow Cabinet

| Starmer Shadow Cabinet

}}

|opposition_party = {{Unbulleted list | {{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Labour Party}}

|opposition_leader = {{unbulleted list

| Jeremy Corbyn (2019–2020)

| Keir Starmer (2020–2022)

}}

|election = 2019 general election

|previous = First Johnson ministry

|successor = Truss ministry

|flag=Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government) (St Edwards Crown).svg

|flag_border=false

|jurisdiction=United Kingdom}}

The second Johnson ministry began on 16 December 2019, three days after Boris Johnson's audience with Queen Elizabeth II where she invited him to form a new government following the 2019 general election. The Conservative Party was returned to power with a majority of 80 seats in the House of Commons. Initially the ministers were largely identical to those at the end of the first Johnson ministry, but changed significantly in cabinet reshuffles in February 2020 and September 2021.

In July 2022, following a government crisis as a result of dozens of resignations from his government, Johnson announced his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party. Johnson pledged to remain as prime minister and lead a 'caretaker' government until a new Conservative Party leader had been elected. The election results were revealed on Monday 5 September 2022, and the new leader Liz Truss became prime minister on 6 September, resulting in the cabinet's dissolution.{{Cite news |date=11 July 2022 |title=Britain to have new PM by 5 September as Tory leadership rules announced |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jul/11/britain-new-pm-5-september-tory-leadership-rules-announced |url-status=live |access-date=12 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711234943/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jul/11/britain-new-pm-5-september-tory-leadership-rules-announced |archive-date=11 July 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://www.itv.com/news/2022-09-05/liz-truss-to-become-britains-next-prime-minister-after-victory-over-sunak | title=Liz Truss to become UK's next prime minister after victory over Sunak | date=5 September 2022 }}

History

= 2019 to 2020 =

The Conservative minority first Johnson ministry could not implement its legislative programme due to a political impasse over Brexit. While the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 requires a two-thirds majority vote in parliament to trigger an election, Johnson bypassed this requirement by passing the Early Parliamentary General Election Act 2019. In the resulting election, held on 12 December 2019, Johnson's Conservatives won a majority of eighty seats, the largest for a government led by a Conservative prime minister since Margaret Thatcher in 1987.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50776671 |title=Election results 2019: Boris Johnson hails 'new dawn' after historic victory |date=2019-12-13 |work=BBC News |access-date=2019-12-13 |url-status=live |archive-date=15 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115102423/https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50776671}}

Initially the ministers were largely identical to those at the end of the first Johnson ministry, excepting the Secretary of State for Wales, in which position Simon Hart replaced Alun Cairns. Nicky Morgan, who stood down at the general election, and Zac Goldsmith, who lost his seat, were made life peers to allow them to remain in the government.

Johnson reshuffled his cabinet on 13 February 2020:{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51491662 |title=Sajid Javid resigns as chancellor |date=2020-02-13 |work=BBC News |access-date=2020-02-13 |archive-date=13 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213152120/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51491662 |url-status=live }} Sajid Javid, Julian Smith, Esther McVey, Geoffrey Cox, Andrea Leadsom, Theresa Villiers and Chris Skidmore all left the government.{{Cite news |last=Castle |first=Stephen |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/world/europe/sajid-javid-boris-johnson.html |title=Sajid Javid, U.K. Finance Chief, Quits as Boris Johnson Shuffles Team |date=2020-02-13 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2020-02-13 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=13 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213191423/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/world/europe/sajid-javid-boris-johnson.html |url-status=live }}

{{Anchor|A-Sabisky}}Andrew Sabisky worked as a political adviser in Johnson's office for a short time in February. Sabisky, a speaker at the secretly held London Conference on Intelligence at UCL in 2015,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/eugenics-andrew-sabisky-boris-johnson-downing-street-racism-dominic-cummings-a9341051.html|author= Rawe, Louise|title=I warned about the spreading influence of eugenics – yet an advocate was able to work at Downing Street|date=2020-02-17|work=The Independent|access-date=10 July 2022|url-status=live|archive-date=18 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218185337/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/eugenics-andrew-sabisky-boris-johnson-downing-street-racism-dominic-cummings-a9341051.html}} believed that there were significant differences in average intelligence between different races, and supported enforced contraception.{{cite news|first=Kate|last=Proctor|date=16 February 2020 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/16/tory-aide-wants-enforced-contraception-to-curb-pregnancies|title=Calls for Tory aide to be sacked over 'enforced contraception' remarks|work=The Guardian|access-date=8 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-date=11 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311172213/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/16/tory-aide-wants-enforced-contraception-to-curb-pregnancies}} This caused concern among politicians of all parties in the UK Parliament only a few days after Sabisky's appointment.{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/number-10-adviser-andrew-sabisky-very-real-racial-differences-in-intelligence-11936334|title=Boris Johnson adviser: 'Very real racial differences in intelligence'|date=17 February 2020|work=Sky News|last1=Powell |first1=Rob |last2=Heffer |first2=Greg|access-date=22 July 2022|url-status=live|archive-date=13 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313172237/https://news.sky.com/story/number-10-adviser-andrew-sabisky-very-real-racial-differences-in-intelligence-11936334}} He resigned from his advisory role on 17 February 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51538493|title=No 10 adviser resigns over alleged race comments|date=2020-02-17|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-02-17|archive-date=5 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305072938/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51538493|url-status=live}}

= 2021 to 2022 =

The 2021 State Opening of Parliament took place on 11 May 2021.{{Cite news|date=2021-05-10|title=Queen's Speech 2021: What can we expect?|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-56987630|access-date=2021-05-10|url-status=live|archive-date=10 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510025817/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-56987630}} Johnson conducted a cabinet reshuffle on 15 September 2021.{{Cite news |date=2021-09-15 |title=Reshuffle: Boris Johnson fires Gavin Williamson as he rings cabinet changes |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-58571935 |access-date=2021-09-15 |url-status=live |archive-date=15 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915190724/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-58571935}} The 2022 State Opening of Parliament took place on 10 May 2022.{{cite news |title=Queen to miss State Opening of Parliament – Prince of Wales to read speech instead |date=9 May 2022 |website=Sky News |url=https://news.sky.com/story/queen-wont-be-attending-state-opening-of-parliament-12609353 |access-date=2022-05-09}} Johnson conducted another cabinet reshuffle on 7 July 2022.{{cite news |first=Ruth |last=Mosalski |date=7 July 2022 |title=Boris Johnson's new cabinet in full as he announces reshuffle and resigns |work=Wales Online |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnsons-new-cabinet-full-24424331|access-date=7 July 2022}} In January 2022 researchers at Sussex University maintained Johnson's administration was more corrupt "than any UK government since the Second World War" and feared serious consequences for the UK if it continued. Professor of Anti-Corruption Practice, Robert Barrington, at the Centre for the Study of Corruption at Sussex University stated that Johnson directly influenced this by personal example and by allowing his ministers and staff to do things.{{Vague|date=April 2025}} Barrington feared "consequences for democracy and Britain's global influence" – Barrington feared further for the economy and national security. Barrington accused MPs or ministers that failed to act against lack of integrity of enabling it.[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-corruption-b2002869.html Corruption experts warn Boris Johnson's government is worst since WWII] The Independent Simon Jenkins wrote "He could never handle rivals near him, and his dismissal of May's abler ministers deprived him, and the UK, of experience and ability in favour of second-rate acolytes."[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jul/07/boris-johnson-warmly-authentic-devious-and-corrupt The public saw Boris Johnson as warmly authentic, then devious and corrupt] The Guardian

== Confidence vote and government crisis==

{{main|2022 vote of confidence in the Conservative Party leadership of Boris Johnson|July 2022 United Kingdom government crisis}}

On 6 June 2022, Boris Johnson faced a vote of confidence in his ministry.{{Cite news |date=6 June 2022 |title=Boris Johnson faces vote of no confidence in his leadership |work=Financial Times |last1= Parker |first1=George |last2=Payne |first2=Sebastian |last3=Pickard |first3=Jim |url=https://www.ft.com/content/c7dcd52f-9c8d-40e5-badd-7aceb3043565 |access-date=2022-06-06}} He won the vote, with 211 in favour of his premiership and 148 against.{{cite news |last1=Mason |first1=Rowena |title=Boris Johnson wins no-confidence vote despite unexpectedly large rebellion |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jun/06/boris-johnson-wins-no-confidence-vote-despite-unexpectedly-large-rebellion |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=6 June 2022}} Johnson was politically weakened.

In July 2022, several ministers resigned from the government in response to the handling of the Chris Pincher scandal, including cabinet ministers Sajid Javid, Rishi Sunak and Simon Hart.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jul/06/the-tory-mps-who-have-quit-boris-johnsons-government-listed |title=The Tory MPs who have quit Boris Johnson's government – listed |last1=Mason |first1=Rowena |last2=Dugan |first2=Emily |work=The Guardian |date=6 July 2022 |access-date=7 July 2022}} Michael Gove was sacked for disloyalty.{{cite news|author= Elgot, Jessica|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jul/06/michael-gove-sacked-for-disloyalty-allies-reveal-how-it-happened |title=Michael Gove sacked for disloyalty: allies reveal how it happened |work=The Guardian |date=6 July 2022 |access-date =7 July 2022}}

== Johnson's resignation ==

Following the resignations, Johnson announced on 7 July 2022 of his decision to step down as Conservative Party leader.{{Cite news |date=2022-07-07 |title=Boris Johnson to stand down as Tory leader after wave of resignations |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-62064789 |access-date=2022-07-07}} Following the completion of the leadership election for his successor on 6 September, he stepped down and was succeeded by Liz Truss.

Cabinets

= December 2019 – February 2020 =

class="wikitable"

|+ Second Johnson Cabinet{{cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/Government/Cabinet |title=Her Majesty's Government: The Cabinet|website=parliament.uk|publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom|access-date=19 December 2019|url-status=deviated|archive-date=2019-12-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219182407/https://members.parliament.uk/Government/Cabinet}}

!width=450 |Portfolio

!width=85 |Portrait

!width=350 |Minister

!Term

style="background:#ccc;" colspan="4"|Cabinet ministers

Prime Minister
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service
Minister for the Union

second Johnson ministry

History

= 2019 to 2020 =

= 2021 to 2022 =

== Confidence vote and government crisis==

== Johnson's resignation ==

Cabinets

= December 2019 – February 2020 =

= February 2020 – September 2021 =

==Changes==

=September 2021 – February 2022=

==Changes==

=February 2022 – 5 July 2022=

==Changes==

=5 July 2022 – 6 September 2022=

==Changes==

List of ministers

=Prime Minister and Cabinet Office=

=Departments of state=

=Law officers=

=Parliament=

See also

Notes

References