Coffey tipped for Health Secretary job as Tory MPs warn Truss a cabinet of allies will lose upcoming election

Therese Coffey is ready to take on the role of healthcare secretary under Liz Truss after holding meetings with the current permanent secretary, The Independentunderstands.

Two sources said Ms Coffey, a longtime ally of Ms Truss , was a favorite candidate for the job as NHS backlogs are seen as a critical issue ahead of the next general election, due in 2024.

The move would mark a promotion for Ms Coffey from her current role as Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions.

Insiders in Whitehall said she was seen meeting the current Permanent Secretary, the most senior civil servant from the health department. Although an official said that if Ms Coffey were to take on a Cabinet Office role, such a briefing would also be appropriate.

The announced promotion for Ms Coffey comes as Tory MPs warn Ms Truss that she must appoint MPs from all wings of the party, not just a clique of loyal allies, if the party is to stay in power after the next election.

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The highest positions in what The three major offices of state - Chancellor, Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary - are traditionally called also likely to change hands if Ms Truss is unveiled as the new Conservative leader on Monday.

< p>Priti Patel has told staff that she plans to leave her post at the Home Office.

"She has made it clear to staff that she does not expect to stay, it has been very clear to the staff," said a source from the Ministry of the Interior.

Kwasi Kwarteng, another close ally of Ms Truss, is expected to be her neighbor at 11 Downing Street as Chancellor, if she wins the competition.

Mr. Kwarteng told business leaders he was likely to end up with the top Treasury job at a recent meeting, according to sources familiar with the talks.

Mr. Kwarteng has also been joined by Jacob Rees-Mogg in sensitive meetings on energy security, fueling speculation that he will receive the mandate of business secretary.

James Cleverly is widely tipped to become minister for Foreign Affairs under a Truss administration. Prior to assuming the role of Education Secretary this summer, Mr. Cleverly had held various foreign policy positions and worked closely with Ms. Truss during her tenure as Secretary of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. /p>

"Given the current challenges, someone with a bit of a handle on geopolitics - like Cleverly does - would be helpful," a Foreign Office source said.

Ben Wallace, who gave his support to the Truss campaign in July, is also expected to remain in his sensitive current role as Defense Secretary, according to MoD insiders.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan is expected to retain her role as Trade Secretary.

Tory MPs say one of Boris Johnson's failures as Prime Minister was not to appoint a cabinet representing the different sides of the party, and say Ms Truss must not make the same mistake.

"Because it's as simple as this: if the he government is not functioning at an unbelievably high level for the next few years, we will have no more power, ”said a Tory MP.

A form minister, a supporter of Rishi Sunak, has said failure to take a 'big tent' approach to forming a government could condemn Ms Truss to swift rejection by her own MPs, a large majority of whom have backed other candidates in the leadership race. p>

"If she names her team on the basis of loyalty rather than talent and does not draw from all sides of the party, she risks repeating the mistakes of Boris Johnson," he said.

< p>He added: "If you make it clear that you are not interested in what your MPs think, don't be surprised if it comes down to biting you."

The Tory members are voting to determine the next prime minister shut down, following last-minute posts from supporters calling on party members to vote on social media.

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