Only eight out of 23 positions were filled by women. The tally is slightly higher than David Cameron’s cabinet which had seven out of 22 women. The position of lord chancellor dates back to the middle ages. The other women promoted to Cabinet rank were the prominent Leave campaigners Ms Leadsom, who became Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, and Priti Patel, the new International Development Secretary.
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Education will be beefed up under Greening, taking over responsibility for apprenticeships and higher education, now overseen by the business department. Another May ally, Justine Greening, won a big promotion to an expanded Department for Education, which will take over responsibility for universities, further education and skills.
In a surprise move, David Cameron’s former parliamentary private secretary Gavin Williamson was promoted to chief whip.
May began the day in her Westminster office, holding a series of one-to-one meetings with ministers she had made a decision to replace, including Gove, the education secretary, Nicky Morgan, and the culture secretary, John Whittingdale.
Part of its role was folded into the new Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy department.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughin has also now arrived at No 10.
The meeting in Edinburgh is expected to focus on Brexit negotiations and Scotland’s place in the European Union after 62% of voters in Scotland backed a remain vote in last month’s referendum.
James Brokenshire was appointed Northern Ireland secretary, Alun Cairns stayed as Wales secretary and the party’s only MP in Scotland David Mundell stayed as its secretary.
In a witty and relaxed farewell performance in the Commons, and then with his family outside No10, he reminded the country of the natural leadership qualities that made him a more than worthy holder of the office of Prime Minister.
It’s no secret to anybody that Theresa May and I hold very different political views and we’ve got perhaps different views on what should happen now in terms of the Brexit vote. Villiers said on Facebook she was offered another role but turned it down because “it was not one which I felt I could take on”.
After sacking George Osborne on taking power on Wednesday, the new Prime Minister dismissed Michael Gove; Nicky Morgan, who backed Mr Gove for the leadership; Oliver Letwin, Mr Cameron’s policy chief and three Osborne allies -Matthew Hancock, Greg Hands and Baroness (Tina) Stowell, who was Leader of the Lords.
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Karen Bradley, another former Home Office minister, was appointed Culture Secretary.
