Prime Minister Theresa May leads her first cabinet meeting of the new year

Theresa May finished her new year’s reshuffle with a raft of new appointments for young Conservative MPs, claiming it “allows a new generation of gifted ministers to set up and make life better for people”.

She said the Government was about "building a country fit for the future – one that truly works for everyone with a stronger economy and a fairer society.

“This reshuffle helps us do just that by bringing fresh talent into Government, boosting delivery in key policy areas like housing, health and social care, and ensuring the Government looks more like the country it serves.

But the reshuffle of top posts – or lack of reshuffle – on Monday will likely overshadow the Prime Minister’s attempt to reboot her Government.

Yesterday several ministers refused to be moved on from their jobs – in a challenge to the PM’s authority – and Justine Greening walked out of Government and resigned from her post as Education Secretary after turning down a new role at the Department for Work and Pensions.

And on Tuesday, Toby Young quit his post with the higher education watchdog with an apology for his homophobic and misogynistic comments – just two days after the Prime Minister backed him to stay. The controversial right-wing journalist stepped down amid a hail of criticism over his offensive comments about women’s breasts, gay people, the disabled and starving children in Africa.