UK PRIME MINISTER BORIS Johnson has begun a reshuffle of Cabinet with some senior politicians already confirming that they have been dumped from their positions.

Penny Mordaunt MP was among the first to confirm that she had lost her job as defence secretary, tweeting that she was “heading to the backbenches”.

Northern Ireland secretary Karen Bradley has also confirmed that she has left the government.

“It has been an enormous privilege to serve as secretary of state for Northern Ireland and represent this special nation and integral part of our precious union,” Bradley said in a statement.

I would like to pay tribute to Theresa May for her continued support and commitment to ensuring the unique needs of Northern Ireland were met and respected in full.

Bradley’s time as Northern Ireland secretary was a controversial one, after telling the House of Commons that killings committed by British forces during the Troubles were ‘not crimes’.

Soon after making the comments, Bradley apologised for them and said that she did not herself believe them.

Jeremy Hunt, who lost to Johnson in the race to become Conservative leader, is also leaving cabinet after being removed from his role as Foreign Secretary. 

In a series of tweets this evening, Hunt said that he was offered “another role” in cabinet but that he declined it.

Hunt said that he wants to take more time to be with his children.

Both Bradley and Mordaunt supported Hunt in the leadership contest and other ministers who did not back Johnson have lost their jobs. 

By late this evening, it was confirmed that over half of May’s old cabinet would not be returning in Johnson’s administration, either due to resigning or being sacked. 

It’s being reported that as many as 16 ministers could lose their job in the purge.