Tory Chairman Oliver Dowden faces being moved by Boris Johnson in a Cabinet reshuffle that is coming ‘sooner than everyone thinks’, The Mail on Sunday has learned.
Mr Dowden is expected to pay the price for recent by-election losses and poor performances in May’s council elections, as well as plunging poll ratings.
It is also understood that Mr Dowden’s public pledge to change candidate selection processes to ensure that half of Tory MPs returned at the next Election are women has alienated male and female colleagues alike.
It comes as the Prime Minister is considering post-Partygate changes to his Cabinet in an attempt to refresh his Government and dissuade party rebels from trying to topple him in a leadership contest.
Mr Johnson has made clear to his Cabinet that Ministers who have defended him during bruising media rounds over the Partygate saga will be rewarded when the reshuffle comes – which should be good news for Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, who have taken on the trickiest appearances.
Conversely, those Ministers who have been more critical, such as Business Minister George Freeman, could be demoted.
Prisons Minister Victoria Atkins is also expected to be removed after concerns over her loyalty.
Rumours that Chancellor Rishi Sunak might be moved out of the Treasury via a ‘job swap’ with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss are played down.
Sources suggested that the Prime Minister benefits from keeping Mr Sunak as a ‘human shield’ over the cost- of-living crisis.
Priti Patel’s job as Home Secretary is seen as safe following the Rwanda illegal migrants policy announcement, which has been well received by the Tory grassroots.
Mr Dowden, who has been a close ally of the Prime Minister, is expected to be given a ministerial role instead.
One senior Conservative described the plan for 50 per cent female candidates as ‘a silly, patronising thing to say… prejudice in the other direction’.
A No 10 spokeswoman said that there were no immediate plans for a reshuffle.