Former Financial Secretary to the Treasury Jesse Norman Speaks to T&G on the Cabinet Reshuffle

Former Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Jesse Norman, has told Times Radio he was happy to accept his sacking in this week's reshuffle to allow for more diversity in the government.

Speaking to Tom Newton Dunn and Daisy McAndrew he said his conservation with the Prime Minister meant he was happy to walk away:

We had a conversation in which he actually offered me the choice of staying on but said that he was looking to improve the diversity and representation within the government.

I thought, you know what, I actually believe in what the Prime Minister is trying to do with improving representation and diversity. I don't want to be one of those who says yes I'm going to stay on to then be one of those ministers who then has to be forklifted out later on.

TND: So you seem to be in a rather rare position of having sacked yourself?

JN: I don't know about that but it's possible to have a conversation. I've supported the Prime Minister in different ways...for a long time and we wanted to have a proper conversation about what he was trying to do with the government and, as I say, I rather support it.

And on whether some Cabinet members might have been less keen to give up roles to allow for more diversity, he said:

I think there are a whole different set of considerations and questions that are raised by that but in general, I am, I have to say rather pro change. And I might be cutting my own head off now, or in the future...

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