Rishi Sunak has announced a reshuffle as he replaces sacked Tory chairman Nadhim Zahawi and tries to boost his party's poor poll ratings.
The prime minister's staunch ally Greg Hands has been named as Zahawi's successor who was sacked for breaching the ministerial code over his tax affairs.
The PM has broken up the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) into separate ministries, created a new energy department and merged trade into business.
Business secretary Grant Shapps has been moved to become energy secretary, while Kemi Badenoch has been promoted to business and trade secretary as part of the Whitehall reshuffle.
Sunak has also separated the Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) department. Michelle Donelan has a new role as science and technology secretary, while Lucy Frazer replaces her as culture secretary.
Meanwhile, deputy PM Dominic Raab survived the mini-shuffle, although pressure is mounting for him to step down as an investigation into alleged bullying unfolds.
Sunak, a former finance minister, billionaire, and hedge funder, is currently trying to steer the economy through a prolonged period of double-digit inflation and stagnation, exacerbated by soaring energy costs.
He is also under pressure to try to prove his belief that Britain can reap benefits after leaving the European Union by developing new trading relationships with international partners.
Sunak's appointment as chairman of Hands as party chairman finally fills a more important position before the next national election expected in 2024, after Nadhim Zahawi was sacked nine days ago over his tax affairs.
Since entering Downing Street in October, Sunak has been under pressure to prove his leadership. Sunak promised in January to tackle Britain's most serious problems, starting with reducing inflation, to fixing the National Health Service (NHS).
