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Wednesday 15 August 2012

Cabinet Reshuffle Rumours. David Laws back to Government but not Cabinet?

Yes, there have been a whole load more rumours that David Cameron is sitting on a beach in Majorca with a sharpened pencil and a large sheet of paper, reshuffling away...

So here is the updated list. Black type means its a rumour I have published previously. Red means its a new addition. Mention of the current cabinet minister's name against a post means I have read somewhere that they are staying put. A blank against a job means I have heard literally no rumours about the incumbent or anyone else taking the job. That now covers just one department - Communities (though I have now heard Eric Pickles also mentioned in other roles).

Lots of changes but a few highlights include:

Consistent tales that David Laws will return to government - but not Cabinet. Reading this multiple times...

A promotion for Chris Grayling. His name comes up a lot, notably as Tory Party Chairman or at Justice

Sir George Young is consistently mentioned as on the way out - although of course Leader of the House is currently not a cabinet post (just attends cabinet).

Two ministries may merge. Neither of them is DCMS. Could there be a merger of Energy with Environment? And with it, a promotion for Ed Davey (or at least twice as much work...)

Anyway, here's the current list.


Prime Minister

David Cameron

Deputy PM

Nick Clegg

Chancellor of the Exchequer

George Osborne
Vince Cable
William Hague
John Redwood
Philip Hammond
Michael Gove
Theresa May

Foreign Secretary

William Hague
George Osborne
Michael Gove

Home Secretary

Theresa May
Michael Gove
Chris Grayling

Education

Michael Gove
Liz Truss

Health

Andrew Lansley
Ken Clarke
Jeremy Hunt
David Laws

Chief Secretary

Danny Alexander
David Laws

Justice

Nick Herbert
Theresa May
Theresa Villiers
Chris Grayling

Scottish Secretary

Jo Swinson
Alastair Carmichael


Welsh Secretary

Cheryl Gillan
David Jones
Maria Miller

Northern Ireland

David Liddington

Business

Andrew Mitchell
David Laws
Danny Alexander
Margot James

Environment

Baroness Warsi
Maria Miller
Caroline Spelman
Ed Davey (if the department merges with Energy)

Energy

Ed Davey

House of Lords

Lord Howard

Minister without Portfolio (Chair of Tory Party)

Grant Shapps
Michael Fallon
Michael Gove
Jeremy Hunt
Andrew Mitchell
Chris Grayling
Eric Pickles

Defence

Philip Hammond

Work & Pensions

Iain Duncan Smith

Communities

Transport

Andrew Mitchell
Theresa Villiers
Chris Grayling

International Development

Baroness Warsi

DCMS

Jeremy Hunt
Justine Greening
Ed Vaizey
Hugh Robertson


And while we’re at it – more speculation. People I have seen tipped to be leave (there’s a major surprise in there but I have read it so feel I must be comprehensive) or be promoted to the cabinet.

Tipped to leave

Ken Clarke
Caroline Spelman
Jeremy Hunt
Baroness Warsi
Andrew Lansley
Vince Cable (that’s the surprise)(now reading this regularly)(though I have also read may still attend Cabinet as leader of the House)
Cheryl Gillan
Justine Greening (or at least a sideways move)
Owen Paterson (still attending cabinet as Leader of the House)
Michael Moore
Ed Davey

Tipped to be Promoted

Grant Shapps
Maria Miller
Chris Grayling
David Laws
Jo Swinson
Alistair Carmichael
Greg Clark
Lynn Featherstone
Andrea Leadsom
Margot James
Anna Soubry
Claire Perry
Nicky Morgan
Harriet Baldwin
Theresa Villiers
Mark Harper
Nick Herbert
Ed Vaizey
Lord Howard
Michael Fallon
David Jones
Liz Truss
John Redwood
David Liddington
Hugh Robertson



2 comments:

  1. Thanks very much indeed for this resource, Richard! DEFRA already encompasses at least two old departments, and if Chris Mullin's diaries are anything to go by, is one of busiest, if not the busiest, department. Slipping energy in with it would mean that Cameron has finally shot his huskies..

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  2. Ive seen Owen Paterson at a recording of Any Questions, he came across as very wooden, under briefed, and out of touch. I dont think he'll get any major post.

    This would be a good time for Cameron to quietly get rid of Hunt, and Spelman who i believe to be hopeless and not suited to cabinet responsibility.

    Rory Stewart would be my odds favorite for minor cabinet post and possibly Cameron's ultimate successor for tory leader.

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