Financial secretary to Treasury's new cabinet post is sign that George Osborne remains influential in ministerial selection

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

Sajid Javid, the Muslim son of a bus driver, has been appointed as culture secretary, replacing Maria Miller.

The appointment leaves the cabinet with only three women.

Currently financial secretary to the Treasury, Javid's selection is a reflection of the high regard with which he is held in Downing Street, but is also another sign that George Osborne remains influential in the appointment of ministers.

It had been thought that Miller, who resigned on Wednesday after telling David Cameron her continued presence in the cabinet would be a distraction to the government's work, would be replaced by a woman, such as Elizabeth Truss, the education minister, or Esther McVey, the work and pensions minister.

But Javid's background and ethnicity may be seen as enough of a nod to those wanting to see the class and cultural make-up of the cabinet remade. He is the first new intake from the 2010 election to reach the cabinet.

Nicky Morgan is stepping up from her role as economic secretary to the Treasury to replace Javid, the prime minister said.

Andrea Leadsom takes over as new economic secretary to the Treasury. The South Northamptonshire MP came into parliament in May 2010 after a 25-year career in banking and finance.

Cameron has already drawn criticism for splitting Miller's old role as minister for women and equalities, handing the women portfolio to Morgan, and equalities to Javid.

It was suggested Morgan could not take on the role of minister for equalities as she voted against gay marriage.

Benjamin Cohen, publisher of PinkNews, said it was "unfortunate that the new minister for women opposes the rights of some women, lesbians, to have the right to marry".

Morgan also backed an unsuccessful attempt by Tory MP Nadine Dorries to tighten restrictions for women requesting an abortion, voting for an amendment that would have made it compulsory for them to have independent advice.

The reshuffle means the three women in official cabinet posts are Justine Greening, the development secretary, Theresa Villiers, the Northern Ireland secretary, and Theresa May, the home secretary. Miller's departure also means there are now no mothers in the cabinet.

Morgan will be allowed to attend cabinet, along with the peer Sayeeda Warsi, who can already do so in her role as a junior foreign office minister.

Gloria De Piero, the shadow women's minister, said Cameron's decision to replace Miller with Javid meant there was now no full member of the cabinet speaking for women.

"There are now just three women running government departments out of a possible 22, demonstrating that when it comes to women, it's out of sight, out of mind for this out of touch government," she said.

A wider cabinet reshuffle is expected in the summer.