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.
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.
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: Sajid Javid, Julian Smith, Esther McVey, Geoffrey Cox, Andrea Leadsom, Theresa Villiers and Chris Skidmore all left the government.
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, believed that there were significant differences in average intelligence between different races, and supported enforced contraception. This caused concern among politicians of all parties in the UK Parliament only a few days after Sabisky's appointment. He resigned from his advisory role on 17 February 2020.
2021 to 2022 The 2021 State Opening of Parliament took place on 11 May 2021. Johnson conducted a cabinet reshuffle on 15 September 2021. The 2022 State Opening of Parliament took place on 10 May 2022. Johnson conducted another cabinet reshuffle on 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. 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.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."The public saw Boris Johnson as warmly authentic, then devious and corrupt The Guardian
Confidence vote and government crisis
On 6 June 2022, Boris Johnson faced a vote of confidence in his ministry. He won the vote, with 211 in favour of his premiership and 148 against. 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. Michael Gove was sacked for disloyalty.
Johnson's resignation Following the resignations, Johnson announced on 7 July 2022 of his decision to step down as Conservative Party leader. 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
+ Second Johnson CabinetPortfolioPortraitMinisterTermCabinet ministersPrime MinisterFirst Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil ServiceMinister for the UnionBoris Johnson2019–2022Chancellor of the ExchequerSajid Javid2019–2020First Secretary of StateSecretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsDominic Raab2019–2021Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentPriti Patel2019–2022Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterMichael Gove2019–2021Secretary of State for JusticeLord High Chancellor of Great BritainRobert Buckland2019–2021Secretary of State for Exiting the European UnionSteve Barclay2018–2020Secretary of State for DefenceBen Wallace2019–2023Secretary of State for Health and Social CareMatt Hancock2018–2021Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial StrategyAndrea Leadsom2019–2020Secretary of State for International TradePresident of the Board of TradeLiz Truss2019–2021Secretary of State for Work and PensionsThérèse Coffey2019–2022Secretary of State for EducationGavin Williamson2019–2021Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTheresa Villiers2019–2020Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentRobert Jenrick2019–2021Secretary of State for TransportGrant Shapps2019–2022Secretary of State for Northern IrelandJulian Smith2019–2020Secretary of State for ScotlandAlister Jack2019–2024Secretary of State for WalesSimon Hart2019–2022Leader of the House of LordsLord Keeper of the Privy SealNatalie Evans, Baroness Evans of Bowes Park2016–2022Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and SportNicky Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Cotes2019–2020Secretary of State for International DevelopmentAlok Sharma2019–2020Minister without PortfolioParty ChairmanJames Cleverly 2019–2020Also attending cabinet meetingsChief Secretary to the TreasuryRishi Sunak2019–2020Leader of the House of CommonsLord President of the CouncilJacob Rees-Mogg2019–2022Chief Whip of the House of CommonsParliamentary Secretary to the TreasuryMark Spencer2019–2022Attorney GeneralGeoffrey Cox2018–2020Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean GrowthKwasi Kwarteng2019–2021Minister of State for the Northern Powerhouse and Local GrowthJake Berry2019–2020Minister of State for Housing and PlanningEsther McVey2019–2020Minister of State for SecurityDeputy for EU Exit and No Deal PreparationBrandon Lewis2019–2020Minister of State for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsMinister of State for International DevelopmentZac Goldsmith, Baron Goldsmith of Richmond Park2019–2022Minister for the Cabinet OfficePaymaster GeneralOliver Dowden2019–2020
February 2020 – September 2021
+ Third Johnson CabinetPortfolioPortraitMinisterTermCabinet ministersPrime MinisterFirst Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil ServiceMinister for the UnionBoris Johnson2019–2022Chancellor of the ExchequerSecond Lord of the TreasuryRishi Sunak2020–2022First Secretary of StateDominic Raab2019–2021Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs2019–2020Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs2020–2021Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentPriti Patel2019–2022Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterMichael Gove2019–2021Minister for the Cabinet Office2020–2021Secretary of State for JusticeLord High Chancellor of Great BritainRobert Buckland2019–2021Secretary of State for DefenceBen Wallace2019–2023Secretary of State for Health and Social CareMatt Hancock2018–2021Sajid Javid2021–2022President for COP26Alok Sharma2021–2022Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy2020–2021Kwasi Kwarteng2021–2022Secretary of State for International TradePresident of the Board of TradeMinister for Women and EqualitiesLiz Truss2019–2021Secretary of State for Work and PensionsDr Thérèse Coffey2019–2022Secretary of State for EducationGavin Williamson2019–2021Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsGeorge Eustice2020–2022Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentRobert Jenrick2019–2021Secretary of State for TransportGrant Shapps2019–2022Secretary of State for Northern IrelandBrandon Lewis2020–2022Secretary of State for ScotlandAlister Jack2019–2024Secretary of State for WalesSimon Hart2019–2022Leader of the House of LordsLord Keeper of the Privy SealNatalie Evans, Baroness Evans of Bowes Park2016–2022Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and SportOliver Dowden2020–2021Secretary of State for International Development(post abolished Sept. 2020)Anne-Marie Trevelyan2020Minister of State for the Cabinet OfficeDavid Frost, Baron Frost2021Minister without PortfolioParty ChairmanAmanda Milling 2020–2021Also attending cabinet meetingsChief Secretary to the TreasurySteve Barclay2020–2021Leader of the House of CommonsLord President of the CouncilJacob Rees-Mogg2019–2022Chief Whip of the House of CommonsParliamentary Secretary to the TreasuryMark Spencer2019–2022Attorney General for England and WalesAdvocate General for Northern IrelandSuella Braverman2020–20212021–2022Michael Ellis2021
Changes Following the merger of the Department for International Development into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in September 2020, the office of International Development Secretary was abolished. Anne-Marie Trevelyan accordingly left the Cabinet and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs became the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. Lord Frost became a full member of the Cabinet as a Minister of State in the Cabinet Office on 1 March 2021. Suella Braverman became Minister on Leave on 2 March 2021 with Michael Ellis replacing her as Attorney General. Braverman returned to the post of Attorney General on 13 September the same year. Matt Hancock quit his post of Health Secretary on 26 June 2021 following the revelation that he had breached coronavirus social distancing guidance. He was replaced by Sajid Javid.
September 2021 – July 2022