Tory MPs today said they are 'delighted' after Theresa May named leading Brexiteer and former reality TV contestant Penny Mordaunt as the new International Development Secretary.
The PM promoted the Work and Pensions minister, who starred in ITV's celebrity diving program Splash !, to the Cabinet after the dramatic departure of Priti Patel last night.
The move came in a minimalist (19459005)
Her deputy Damian Green is still being investigated over sex harassment allegations, while Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is facing demands to resign over loose comments that might double the jail term for a British mother in Iran.
Ms Mordaunt's appointment to the job maintains the careful balance of Remainers and Brexiteers around the Cabinet table and Tory MPs warmly welcomed the move.
Tory MP for North west Leicestershire Andrew Bridgen told Mail Online: 'I'm delighted.
' But we need to bear in mind that all members of Cabinet are Brexiteers now because that is Government policy
'She's a Brexiteer, but it's an appointment based on merit and she is very good.'
Fellows Conservative Anne-Marie Trevelyan hailed Ms Mordaunt as a 'great choice'while Huw Merriman described her as' a great person and a great talent'.
Mrs May has brought in the blood of the elevation a member of the 2015 intake of Tory MPs to ministerial office for the first time.
Victoria Atkins becomes a Home Office minister, while Sarah Newton shifts to take 44-year-old Ms Mordaunt's old job.
Penny Mordaunt runs up Downing Street today to have her promotion confirmed 
Work and Pensions minister Ms Mordaunt previously appeared on the ITV's Splash! reality diving show ![The promotion for Ms Mordaunt came in a minimalist reshuffle as Mrs May struggled to quell a mounting sense of chaos after Ms Patel followed Sir Michael Fallon out of the exit door. "</div><br /> <p> ]<br /><br /> <noscript></p><br /> <p> <img id=](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/09/16/462B5C0E00000578-5065207-image-a-72_1510243435477.jpg)
The promotion for Ms Mordaunt came in a minimalist reshuffle as Mrs May struggled to quell a mounting sense of chaos after Ms Patel followed Sir Michael Fallon out of the exit door. 
Mrs May, pictured leaving Downing Street today, faced a high-wire act with her second enforced reshuffle in a week [1945909]
Miss Patel was all smiles last night as she was driven away through the gates of Downing Street after drawing a line under her time as a minister [1945909]
Miss Patel tweeted congratulations to her successor in the Cabinet tonight Mrs Johnson's position deteriorated further today after Iranian state TV claimed that he had 'confessed' she broke the law by spreading propaganda - potentially meaning a 10-year sentence.
Meanwhile, there have been warnings from friends of Miss Patel that she could 'go off like a shotgun' at Tory Remainers now she has been freed of ministerial constraints.
PENNY MORDAUNT: THE MAGICIAN'S ASSISTANT WHO BECAME A MINISTER
Penny Mordaunt is taking over as International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt is a prominent Brexiteer who has made a splash since being elected to Westminster - in more ways than one.
The 44-year-old has served as a list of sexiest female MPs.
In 2014 she sparked controversy by appearing on the TV diving show Splash! - donating her payment to charity
And the popular MP, who is divorced and does not have children, has smuggled in a bit of cheeky humour into the deadly serious Commons debates.
She (19459002)
The MP for Portsmouth North has lived in the large naval town since she (19459005)
Her father was in the Paras before becoming a teacher and she is a Royal Navy Reservist.
The comprehensive-educated Tory (19459005)
She took her first run at Parliament in 2005 and was elected MP for Portsmouth North in 2010.
She was promoted to the frontbench by David Cameron in 20 (19459005)
But it is from last years bitter Brexit referendum campaign that many outside Westminster will know her from.
She became one of the leading figures in the Turkey's EU.
The PM condemned her comments as 'absolutely wrong' and the clash was a rare 'blue on blue' row in the campaign.
She has served as Armed Forces minister and Defense Secretary after he was forced to quit over sex sleaze claims.
Her elevation to the Cabinet maintains the delicate balance of Brexiteers and Remainers in Cabinet, while ensuring that the same number of women have seats on the top table.
EU leaders are said to be preparing for the fall of Mrs May's government within weeks after scandal and divisions threatened to erode its slender grip on power.
Having faced a major backlash from MPs over her decision to appoint close ally Gavin Williamson after Sir Michael resigned over sleaze allegations 7 days ago, this time Mrs May bowed to demands from Brexiteers to maintain their representation in the Cabinet.
Miss Patel was a vocal supporter of the EU, and Ms Mordaunt - who supported Mrs May's rival Andrea Leadsom in Tory leadership contest last year - was on the same side of the debate
The Portsmouth North MP was a prominent campaigner in the referendum, notably clashing with David Cameron on live TV over whether Turkey was set to join the EU.
She also has a colourful back story, having served as a magician's assistant, trained as a Roya l Navy reservist and topped the 2011 list of sexiest female MPs.
In 2014 she sparked controversy by appearing on the TV diving show 'Splash' - donating her payment to charity
And the popular MP has smuggled in a bit of cheeky humour into the deadly serious Commons debates.
She admitted making a joke speech about animal welfare so she could say the word 'c ** k' after a dare from her friends in the Navy
Senior backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg said last night that he wanted someone who was' enthusiastic 'about leaving the EU.
' I do not think it has to necessarily be somebody who campaigned for Brexit, 'he said.
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith also insisted' strong Brexit views' would be a factor in the PM's choice
'I think we are all Brexiteers now. So Davis and others, and I think therefore the balance on having strong 'he told BBC Radio 4's Today program.
Miss Patel, once tipped as a Tory leader, tweeted her thanks for the 'support and kindness' she had been shown today.
Amid farcical scenes, Miss Patel was booked to fly home to music last night just 12 hours into a tour of Africa - and just two days after she was reprieved by Mrs May.
She quit in a short meeting with the PM in Downing Street - but in her resignation letter she issued a thinly warning that she could challenge the government from the backbenches over Brexit, as allies argued she had been treated harshly .
Miss Patel's decision to defend secretary last week, over accusations of misconduct against women.
The government was already being propped up on the slenderest of margins by the DUP, and question marks are still hanging over the futures of further frontbenchers in Boris Johnson and Damian Green.
Brussels is now braced for the PM being ousted by her party, or for another General Election bringing Jeremy Corbyn to Number 10.
MAY'S CABINET: WHO IS A REMAINER AND WHO IS A BREXITEER?
