RISHI RESHUFFLES IN BID TO STEADY SHIP

GREG HANDS IS NEW PARTY CHAIRMAN, BADENOCH GETS BUSINESS, SHAPPS AT ENERGY | Raab stays put as he bids to ride out 'bullying' row

- David Bond and Rachael Burford

RISHI SUNAK today carried out a mini-reshuffle of his Cabinet in a bid to reboot his premiership.

Fulham and Chelsea MP Greg Hands was appointed as new chairman of the Conservative Party, replacing Nadhim Zahawi who was sacked following the storm over his tax affairs. Tory MP Michael Fabricant retweeted a picture of Mr Hands smiling this morning and said: "Greg is now the new Conservative Party Chairman. Congratulations!"

The Prime Minister, who is trying to close Labour's 20 point-plus lead in the polls, also launched a major Whitehall shake-up, dismantling the sprawling Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Department (BEIS) to create a new dedicated energy department. At the same time the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport was broken up with the digital unit being merged with the science department. As part of the changes, International Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, far left, was appointed the new Business and Trade Secretary, replacing Grant Shapps, left, who became head of the new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.