Theresa May is considering promotions for seven female ministers in a reshuffle next week in a bid to improve the gender balance of her Cabinet.

The Prime Minister is contemplating elevating Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, and Karen Bradley, the Culture Secretary.

Meanwhile, she is also looking at bringing other female ministers into Cabinet including Anne Milton, Claire Perry, Sarah Newton, Margot James and Harriett Baldwin.

However she is being warned by male Tory MPs that women should be promoted on “absolute merit” rather than on the basis of their gender.

The Prime Minister’s 21-strong Cabinet currently only has five female members.

It comes after allies of David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, revealed they fear that he risks being "marginalised" if Boris Johnson is handed a new "super-charged" Brexit role in a reshuffle.