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DRIVERS' CHAMP GETS BOOT

Minister who saved motorists £30BILLION with fuel tax cuts is first to be sacked by Theresa May

FUEL DUTY hero Rob Halfon became the first minister to be sacked by Theresa May yesterday in the second day of her reshuffle.

The Tory – who saved motorists a fortune through his tireless campaigning during the Coalition years – was axed as Apprentices and Skills Minister.

 Apprentices and Skills Minister Rob Halfon was the first victim of the Cabinet reshuffle
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Apprentices and Skills Minister Rob Halfon was the first victim of the Cabinet reshuffleCredit: David Hartley

It came as Theresa May looked to complete the shake-up of her junior Ministerial ranks following Sunday’s Cabinet shake-up.

Writing on Twitter, the Minister said: “It’s been an honour to have served as Apprenticeships Minister.

“I’m proud to have a record 900,000 apprentices and to have passed the Technical and Further Education Bill.”

 The Tory MP was credited with saving motorists £30billion in cuts to fuel duty
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The Tory MP was credited with saving motorists £30billion in cuts to fuel dutyCredit: Getty Images

The Tory MP for Harlow is famed for championing White Van Man. Three years ago he called on the Conservatives to cash in on Labour’s struggles by becoming the “Workers Party”.


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Theresa May waited until after a showdown with backbench MPs yesterday to start the second tranche of the reshuffle.

Ex-Chancellor George Osborne credited Rob Halfon with saving motorists £30billion through his calls with the Sun to cut fuel duty.

He promoted him to deputy chairman in 2015.

Tory backbencher Heidi Allen tweeted: “Very disappointing.”

Late last night the PM wielded the knife again, axing three other ministers - Mike Penning, Sir Oliver Heald and David Jones.

 Theresa May has now axed a total of four Ministers
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Theresa May has now axed a total of four MinistersCredit: Getty Images

But she extended two olive branches to Leavers and Remainers bringing back Dominic Rabb to the Ministry of Justice and Claire Perry as a Business Minister.

Former Business Minister Nick Hurd also moves to the Home Office.

Deputy Chief Whip Anne Milton moves to the Department for Education along with Robert Goodwill.