Theresa May insists she has created a "bold" Cabinet that has hit the ground running.

In a decisive cull of David Cameron's closest allies, the new Prime Minister's shake-up of the top team saw promotions for women and Brexiteers.

Mrs May is set to travel to Scotland Friday for talks with SNP First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in a bid to underline her determination to keep the UK together in the face of withdrawal from the EU.

READ MORE: Theresa May set to visit Scotland on first official engagement on Friday

The move will follow Mrs May's sweeping Cabinet clear-out which saw her sack Mr Cameron's right-hand man George Osborne within hours of taking office on Wednesday, and then going on to axe Michael Gove, Oliver Letwin, Nicky Morgan and John Whittingdale.

But Jeremy Hunt kept his job as Health Secretary, despite being widely tipped for the chop.

READ MORE: Alex Salmond's advice to Theresa May: Don't mess with the people of Scotland

The new PM, who took a 15 minute congratulatory telephone call from US president Barack Obama, rewarded her leadership campaign manager Chris Grayling with the post of Transport Secretary, adding him to the phalanx of Leave backers in Cabinet which already included Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and David Davis.

The Prime Minister's official spokeswoman said: "This is a bold Cabinet. It's hitting the ground running. What you have seen with the appointments today is that commitment to putting social reform at the heart of her Government."

The creation of specific Cabinet posts for exiting the EU, and boosting international trade "underlines the commitment to delivering on the decision of the British people," the official spokeswoman said.

Labour said the promotion of a string of right-wingers contradicted Mrs May's "warm words" on her entry into 10 Downing Street about seeking to govern "not for a privileged few, but for every one of us".

Mrs May announced changes to the machinery of Whitehall which spelled the end for the Department of Energy and Climate Change - established by Gordon Brown in 2008 to lead the UK's contribution to the fight against global warming.

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Greg Clark was appointed to the new role of Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, while his old role at the head of the Department for Communities and Local Government went to former business secretary Sajid Javid, in an effective job-swap.

The business department's responsibilities for universities, further education, skills and apprenticeships were transferred to the Department for Education under its new Secretary of State Justine Greening, who also became minister for women and equalities.

She replaced Ms Morgan, who made clear her departure was unwilling by saying she was "disappointed" to lose the job.

Green MP Caroline Lucas denounced the decision to shut down DECC as a "serious backwards step", as it would mean no dedicated minister for climate change at the Cabinet table.

Meanwhile, failed leadership candidate Stephen Crabb quit the Cabinet "in the best interests of my family", days after The Times reported that he had sent sexually explicit WhatsApp messages to a young woman during the EU referendum campaign.

READ MORE: Alex Salmond's advice to Theresa May: Don't mess with the people of Scotland

His job of Work and Pensions Secretary went to Damian Green, and James Brokenshire, entered the Cabinet for the first time as Northern Ireland Secretary, replacing Theresa Villiers who turned down an alternate position.

A week after seeing his hopes of the Tory leadership dashed when he came third in a poll of Tory MPs, Mr Gove lost his Justice Secretary job to Liz Truss, who became the first female Lord Chancellor in the thousand-year history of the role.

Prominent Brexit backer Andrea Leadsom, who paved the way for Mrs May's rapid elevation to the premiership by pulling out of the Tory leadership contest on Monday, was promoted from energy minister to the Cabinet role of Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Karen Bradley, who worked under Mrs May at the Home Office, was promoted to Culture Secretary, while prominent Brexit campaigner Priti Patel became International Development Secretary.

Other eye-catching appointments on the second day of the formation of Mrs May's Government included former transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin as Conservative Party chairman and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Alun Cairns kept his job as Wales Secretary and Mr Cameron's former parliamentary aide Gavin Williamson became chief whip.

Meanwhile, a day after their ejection from Government, Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne were spotted nursing their wounds over coffees with their families at a terrace cafe in Notting Hill.

The Conservatives' only MP north of the border, David Mundell, retained his position as Scotland Secretary.

Treasury minister David Gauke was promoted to the Cabinet-level role of Chief Secretary and former Europe minister David Lidington was made Leader of the House of Commons.

Mrs May has completed appointing her full Cabinet with the final role to be confirmed being Attorney General Jeremy Wright.

The final Government appointment until Friday was Ben Gummer being made Cabinet Office Minister.