British Prime Minister appoints Coffey deputy, names cabinet members

.As Buhari congratulates Truss

British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Tuesday announced Therese Coffey as Health Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister
even as she named some other members of her Cabinet.

PM Truss made the announcement after she was formally invited by the Queen to form her government,

Kwasi Kwarteng, former business secretary was announced as Chancellor of the Exchequer; James Cleverly as Foreign Secretary. Cleverly is one of Ms Truss’s closest allies and has worked with her in the Foreign Office as a junior minister.

Suella Braverman has also been appointed as Home Secretary; Wendy Morton Wendy Morton, transport minister announced as the first Tory female Chief Whip; Alister Jack reappointed as Scottish Secretary; Brandon Lewis has been appointed as Justice Secretary and Ben Wallace remains as Defence Secretary.

Also announced as Cabinet members are: Nadhim Zahawi as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Penny Mordaunt, who came third in the Tory leadership race, has been appointed as Leader of the House of Commons.

Alister Jack, according to information will be reappointed as Scottish Secretary; Anne-Marie Trevelyan is expected to be offered the job of Transport Secretary; Jacob Rees-Mogg has been appointed a Business Secretary; Simon Clarke, the former chief secretary to the Treasury, has been appointed as Levelling Up Secretary; Jake Berry has been appointed minister without portfolio, while Alok Sharma retains his role in the Cabinet as President for COP26

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday congratulated the new Prime Minister of Britain, MsTruss, on her assumption of office even as Queen Elizabeth 11 formally appointed her

The President message was contained in a statement by Mr. Femi Adesina, his Special Adviser Media and Publicity.

It read in part: “The President rejoices with the former Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, whose antecedents in government, politics and diplomacy will further shape and strengthen relations with Nigeria and other nations.

“He affirms that the shared ties between Nigeria and Britain remains strong, positive and mutually beneficial, while working with Prime Minister Liz Truss to deepen that relationship in the interest of both countries.

“President Buhari appreciates the warmth and friendliness of the immediate past Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, wishing him the best in his future endeavours.

Earlier, Truss became Britain’s new Prime Minister after meeting with Queen Elizabeth II, who asked her to form a new government.

Truss, 47, took office on Tuesday in the carefully choreographed ceremony with the monarch a day after the ruling Conservative Party announced that Truss was elected as its leader.

“The Queen received in Audience The Right Honourable Elizabeth Truss MP today and requested her to form a new Administration,” a Buckingham Palace statement said.

“Ms Truss accepted Her Majesty’s offer and kissed hands upon her appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury,” it added.