Jeremy Hunt expects to lose culture secretary role in cabinet reshuffle

Jeremy Hunt is expecting to lose his post as culture secretary in the impending cabinet reshuffle, according to sources familiar with the cabinet member's thinking. The minister responsible for arts, media and sport was said to be keen to remain in post having survived a Leveson inquiry examination into his relationship with James Murdoch at the time Hunt was deciding on News Corporation's bid for BSkyB in 2011. However, Hunt's attempts to seek assurances from David Cameron that he will not be moved after a successful Olympics are understood to have been unsuccessful – leaving him hanging on for a call from Number 10 on Tuesday. Just over a week ago, Hunt gave an interview to the Mail on Sunday, in which he said he had "learned my lesson" from the handling of the Sky bid, which saw special adviser Adam Smith resign over the "volume and tone" of his email contact with Murdoch's chief lobbyist Frédéric Michel. It remains possible that the prime minister will leave Hunt in post – but there is speculation that the minister once seen as a rising star will move sideways to the Department for International Development. Meanwhile, there are few clear rumours as to who might replace Hunt if the minister in charge of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) moves on. Some at Westminster suggest it could be a chance to elevate Cameron's friend and communications minister, Ed Vaizey. But others believe that any replacement for Hunt will be a Conservative minister displaced from another mid- to low-ranking department as the prime minister tries to complete an orderly reorganisation of his senior team. Separately, DCMS insiders dismissed reports that the department could be broken up and scattered around Whitehall. Senior cabinet ministers have told MPs that no such plans are envisaged. • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication". • To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook .