Priti Patel will stay on as Home Secretary despite the spiralling number of asylum seekers risking their lives to cross the Channel.

She keeps the role amid a dramatic reshuffle which saw many colleagues lose their jobs or face humiliating demotions.

She tweeted: "A huge privilege to continue serving as Home Secretary under our Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

"There is still so much more to do to deliver for the British people. Tackling illegal migration, cutting crime and continuing to keep our great country safe."

Meanwhile Dominic Raab has been promoted to deputy Prime Minister but demoted from the foreign secretary post after the Afghanistan controversy.

After prolonged talks with Boris Johnson Raab, previously first secretary, will head to the justice department.

Trade minister Liz Truss has been promoted to the foreign secretary role, with Ann Marie Trevelyan taking the trade job.

Gavin Williamson earlier announced on Twitter he was no longer education secretary having come into the role in 2019.

He said: "It has been a privilege to serve as Education Secretary since 2019. Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, I’m particularly proud of the transformational reforms I’ve led in Post 16 education: in further education colleges, our Skills agenda, apprenticeships and more.

"This programme will create better life opportunities for pupils and students for many years to come. I look forward to continuing to support the Prime Minster and the government."

Williamson was unpopular with teachers and has paid the price for the presiding over the exams controversy amid the Covid pandemic.

He was also blamed for the controversy over guidance given to schools about how they should respond to positive tests. It led to many schools sending large numbers of children home - in some cases for several weeks.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi has replaced him.

Robert Buckland was sacked as justice secretary to make was for Raab.

Housing minister Robert Jenrick has also left also announcing his departure on Twitter. He said: "It’s been a huge privilege to serve as Secretary of State @mhclg. Thank you to everyone at the department for their hard work, dedication and friendship. I’m deeply proud of all we achieved."

The departure of Jenrick may be welcomed by those who have been fighting government plans to impose house-building targets on the county.

He was forced to retreat over a cack-handed plan to use an algorithm to calculate how many homes should be built - leaving some councils with even higher targets.

While the dropping of the algorithm was welcomed, many Kent MPs remain uncomfortable about a new proposal that could see developers given permission to build in zones without the need for planning permission.

Michael Gove will replace him but also take on a role protected the Union, with Steve Barclay becoming Chancellor of Duchy of Lancaster and Cabinet Office Minister.

Former I'm A Celebrity contestant Nadine Dorries is the new culture secretary.

Faversham and Mid Kent MP Helen Whately leaves her role as care minister to become Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury.

Amanda Milling has been sacked as co-chairman of the Conservative party and has been replaced by Dowden.

Ben Wallace stays on as defence secretary. Recently he hit the headlines after an emotional response to the Afghanistan crisis.

He later branded military veteran Pen Farthing's version of events surrounding the efforts to evacuate his animal rehoming centre as "b******s".

Analysis

After a torrid few months dominated by Afghanistan and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, you could be forgiven for thinking that a reshuffle would be the last thing that Boris Johnson would want to embark upon.

Although the people in the top jobs - the Chancellor Rishi Sunak and health secretary Sajid Javid - will not be moved, there is likely to be a lot of political snakes and ladders to come.

Williamson has already paid the price for a lacklustre period in the cabinet.

Raab’s reputation took a battering when he was quizzed by a cross party group of MPs on the foreign affairs select committee about how he had handled the crisis in Afghanistan.

He was skewered by the committee chairman and Kent MP Tom Tugendhat, who some tip as someone who could get a junior cabinet post.

Patel has held on to her job as Home Secretary despite some criticism of her track record and difficulties dealing with the spiralling numbers of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats and dinghies.

Some believed that she was the wrong person for the job but she is popular with party members, who like her uncompromising approach.

Kent interest is likely to be limited, although it could be interesting to see if the well-respected MP for Tonbridge and Malling Tom Tugendhat gets a call up - even though he has been one of the harshest critics of the government over Afghanistan.

His expertise and experience might be qualities that the Prime Minister could do with.

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