The reshuffle.
Previously we speculated on the most hypothetical of unlikely reshuffles. What needed to be done.
Osborne out. Cable out. May out. there was as much chance of that happening as there is of anyone ever saying 'I agree with nick' in a leader's debate, ever again.
It was a pastime activity. hope over reality.
However, in some subtle and clever ways, Cameron really has had a reshuffle worth having.
Ken Clarke has come away from Justice, where he was annoying the right wing media, and has a roving, unspecified brief. Basically he's to help out at the Treasury. Help point out the carrots in any future pasty style taxes and such. And no doubt he'll be popping up on Newsnight to explain the government's position and expand on its ideas. He's not afraid of Paxo and he doesn't come across as an evasive lying politician.
A good move from Dave. Two birds- one stone. And Chris Grayling, who is a fairly competent performer had gone to make justice a little bit harsher for the Mail.
Jeremy Hunt we had pegged to leave meeja and sport. And he has. But instead of disappearing, he's got a big promotion. He's the new Health secretary. Wow!
We knew Lansley was toast, and had hoped that Vince Cable could be moved from being the anti-business secretary to the 'saviour of the NHS.'
Well, Cameron didn't fancy that. Or maybe Clegg intervened to keep Cable away. Whatever..Lansley has gone {big tick right there. He's been a PR disaster,} And Hunt has taken over. It was bold of Dave to not give a stuff what the assorted Leveson
Liberal media would make of Murdoch's poodle getting a bigger role in
government.
Hunt is a Murdoch man. So at least the red tops coverage of the {watered down?} health reforms will get good coverage.
David laws finally limps back into government but at education. He was the Lib Dem education shadow for years and has a good grasp. He's joining the ablest minister, Michael Gove, and will possibly allow one of the few areas of real government success, education, to proceed even faster.
He also tips out the useless Sarah Teather,which is a bonus.
Really, like Clarke, Laws is on a multi brief. he will advise the treasury as much as the schools. He 's back to help Clegg too. Possibly just in time. Shame that the PM and deputy weren't strong enough to oust Cable from business. But Cable has been on maneuvers and his power base is growing, so he must, regrettably, stay.
C@W also wrote { Sayeeda Warsi, Caroline Spelman, Cheryl Gillan, Theresa May}
will be very lucky to keep their jobs in a reshuffle. And if they do
will only be because it would bring up the misogynist Dave tag again if
he knifed all his babes.
Three of the
four weren't lucky. Another brave decision. Axing female MPs when he had
already been accused of not respecting women took some courage.
{Telegraph are already running a story about male dominated cabinet}
Theresa may survived. A Cameroon favourite I suppose she's done OK. Not good. But not really bad. She's better than Jacqui Smith. {to damn with praise so faint its almost transparent}.
So overall, a pretty fair stab. The deckchairs have been rearranged. Now its time to steer the ship.
PS
Justine Greening, a Bill Quango hot tip for promotion, got chopped.
In the comments of that link you'll see regular commenter MEASURED spotted the reason why she's been pushed out to the non job of international development.
Doh. Nimby, yet far more important to the future of the UK than HS2.
Well spotted measured.