Penny Mordaunt, a former minister in the work and pensions department and an outspoken supporter of Brexit has replaced Priti Patel as international development secretary, following the Indian-origin politician's high-profile resignation.
Prime Minister Theresa May has been under pressure to replace Ms. Patel, Britain's first Indian-origin cabinet member and also a vocal member of the Leave campaign with another "Brexiteer", in a cabinet divided over the issue.
The Prime Minister will be hoping that the appointment of Ms. Mordaunt will restore a degree of stability to her government, following last week's resignation of Defense Minister Michael Fallon and the continued pressure facing Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson over incorrect remarks made about a British-Iranian citizen to a parliamentary committee.
Ms. Patel, the MP for the Essex constituency of Witham entered Parliament in 2010.
Born in London, Ms. Patel was appointed diaspora champion for the British Indian community by former Prime Minister David Cameron as part of its effort to strengthen ties between the two countries, and to win over more of the British Gujarati and wider Indian community, which has traditionally voted Labour, to the Conservative Party.
In March this year she was awarded the Pravasi Bharitiya Samman award.
