Former justice secretary who was sacked by Theresa May last year returns to government as Andrea Leadsom and Damian Green take on new roles • General election 2017 - live updates • Support our journalism by becoming a Guardian supporter or making a contribution

Michael Gove has made a shock return to the cabinet as environment secretary after being sacked by Theresa May last year.



Gove’s return to the cabinet was the main development of a muted reshuffle of May’s top team, noted for how many senior positions went unchanged. The former department secretary, Andrea Leadsom – May’s 2016 leadership rival – was shifted sideways to become leader of the House of Commons.

Election 2017: Damian Green appointed first secretary of state as May begins cabinet reshuffle – live Read more

His new role will mean the prominent Brexit campaigner has the difficult task of restructuring British agricultural subsidies for when the UK exits the EU. As education secretary, he attempted to remove global warming from the school curriculum – though he insisted the motivation was slimming down the syllabus and not an objection to the science.

Gove’s return is a signal May is prepared to put their personal animosity behind her, sparked by a bitter row over the alleged infiltration of Birmingham schools by hardline Islamists. Gove’s allies at the Department for Education blamed the Home Office for the scandal, with May’s aides retaliating by publishing confidential cabinet correspondence attacking Gove.

Reacting to his appointment, Gove told Sky News: “I was quite surprised, I have to say ... I genuinely didn’t expect this role. I am delighted to be part of the government, I am delighted to be able to support Theresa to ensure that we have a government capable of delivering on the people’s wishes.”

The path for Gove’s return to the frontline of politics will have been eased by the departure of May’s joint chiefs of staff, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, over the weekend.

As an adviser at the Home Office during the row, Hill was forced to resign by Downing Street for briefing against Gove. The then education secretary was demoted a short time later to chief whip, though he later returned under Cameron as justice secretary before being sacked by May after his abortive Tory leadership campaign.

However, during his period on the backbenches, Gove has been keen to demonstrate approval for May, including tweeting his support after Thursday’s poor election result.

Michael Gove (@michaelgove) Conservatives always put national interest first - vital the PM is given strong support for key Queen's Speech and Brexit talks

Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, tweeted his delight at Gove rejoining the cabinet:

Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) It's a GOVErnment of all the talents. Welcome back to Michael!

May also appointed close ally and long-time friend Damian Green as first secretary of state in a bid to consolidate her control of government after a bruising weekend.

Green will now effectively be May’s number two, standing in for her at prime minister’s questions as well as becoming minister for the Cabinet Office. He replaces Ben Gummer, who lost his Ipswich seat at last week’s general election.

May’s delicate position after an election campaign that left her with no majority and few allies put the brakes on any major overhaul, which ministers and their aides had been briefing ahead of the election.

Former justice secretary Liz Truss was one of the only high-profile ministers to lose her job, demoted to chief secretary to the Treasury. David Gauke was promoted from that role to Green’s old job at the Department for Work and Pensions, responsible for implementing the rollout of the government’s welfare reforms.

Truss was widely briefed to be on her way out of the Ministry of Justice after she was criticised by senior judges for failing to defend the judiciary against the media backlash that followed the supreme court Brexit ruling, which led to headlines branding judges “enemies of the people”.

David Lidington, the former Europe minister whose last job was leader of the House of Commons, took Truss’s old job. Lidington stood in for May at prime minister’s questions during the last parliament, when May had no deputy or first secretary.

Both Lidington and Green were staunch supporters of the remain campaign during the EU referendum, with the latter a board member for the Stronger In campaign. Their appointments could be intended to send a signal that advocates for a softer Brexit will also have May’s ear.

The prime minister confirmed on Friday night that her most senior cabinet ministers would remain in their posts, including the home secretary, Amber Rudd, the chancellor, Philip Hammond, the Brexit secretary, David Davis, the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, and Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary.

On Sunday, cabinet ministers strolled up the path to Downing Street to be told for the most part that they would be staying in their old departments.

Jeremy Hunt continues as health secretary and Justine Greening keeps her job as education secretary, despite differences with May over her flagship policy to expand the number of grammar schools in England. Patrick McLoughlin was also reconfirmed as Conservative party chairman and chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Greg Clark, another ally, was confirmed in his post as business secretary and Liam Fox will remain as secretary of state for international trade. Priti Patel will remain as international development secretary, Karen Bradley at culture, media and sport and Sajid Javid stays put at the Department of Communities and Local Government, though he had been widely tipped to be on his way out.

There was no change either for Alun Cairns as Welsh secretary, Chris Grayling at transport and Gavin Williamson as chief whip. Williamson has been in Belfast conducting negotiations with the Democratic Unionists on supporting a minority Conservative government.

James Brokenshire remains at the Northern Ireland office, with the difficult prospect of returning to the negotiations over the Northern Ireland assembly, while the government depends on the DUP for support in the House of Commons.

Others who will remain in post include Brandon Lewis as Home Office minister, though he will now attend cabinet, Natalie Evans as leader of the House of Lords and Jeremy Wright as attorney general.

Five of the most senior figures in the cabinet – Johnson, Fallon, Hammond, Rudd and Davis, were told on Friday that they would retain their posts.

Another key appointment announced over the weekend was Gavin Barwell, the former Conservative MP who lost his Croydon Central seat on Thursday. He will become May’s new chief of staff after Timothy and Hill both resigned on Saturday, with senior ministers blaming them for the party’s unpopular manifesto and for the controlling management style in No 10.