POLITICIANS in Oxfordshire called on the Government for clarity yesterday after sweeping changes were made by Theresa May to the top table.

In her first shake-up of the Cabinet, the new Prime Minister culled allies of David Cameron and replaced them with more women and Brexiteers.

Former Chancellor George Osborne was sacked on Wednesday night, followed by Michael Gove, Oliver Letwin, Nicky Morgan and John Whittingdale yesterday.

Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, kept his job despite being widely tipped for the chop and former Business Secretary Sajid Javid was made Communities Secretary, giving him power over local councils.

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said Mr Javid's previous role meant he was likely to "understand the importance" of the city's role to the national economy and called on him to progress talks on devolution of major powers.

He added: "Our proposals go right to the heart of the growth agenda and it is in everyone's interests we move quickly.

"We will now be looking for some clarity about what the new Communities Secretary thinks are realistic options going forward.

"As far as we know at this stage, however, there is no significant change to the Government's policy."

Banbury MP Victoria Prentis also welcomed Mrs May as Prime Minister yesterday, adding: "The coming years are going to be very important for the UK, and I am glad that we will have a steady hand on the tiller of government."

Those who were rewarded with promotions in the Cabinet included Mrs May's leadership campaign manager Chris Grayling, who was made Transport Secretary, alongside fellow Leave supporters Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and David Davis.

Failed Conservative leadership candidate Stephen Crabb quit "in the best interests" of his family, days after it emerged he sent sexually explicit WhatsApp messages to a young woman.

His job of Work and Pensions Secretary went to Damian Green, who served under Mrs May at the Home Office for four years as Immigration Minister and Policing Minister until 2014.

Mrs May's former number two at the Home Office, James Brokenshire, also entered the Cabinet for the first time as Northern Ireland Secretary, replacing Theresa Villiers who resigned.

Michael Gove, who also saw his leadership hopes dashed, lost the Justice Secretary job to Liz Truss, who became the first female Lord Chancellor in the thousand-year history of the role.

And prominent Brexit backer Andrea Leadsom, who paved the way for Mrs May's elevation to the premiership by pulling out of the Tory leadership race on Monday, was made Environment Secretary.