If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
Is there actually anything wrong with such a fraternity? Whilst it would be wonderful for government to operate upon a solely egalitarian basis, in reality the nature of the system demands a condensed group of individuals who can delegate political strategy across Westminster.
For the Tories, debates on Europe - and the UK's place in it - are all over their fringe schedule like a rash. The prime minister will be wanting to apply soothing ointment to this debate but he may find it very difficult to do. Party members scared of the UKIP challenge will want some Eurosceptic meat to chew on. This remains a huge challenge for Cameron.
Dear David, So far, so bad. Last week you reshuffled half your cabinet in order to inject vitality into your government and demonstrate a fresh sense of purpose. Sadly, voters are unpersuaded. YouGov polls since the reshuffle show Labour retaining its lead of 10 points or so...
Of course the biggest move of the cabinet though was Andrew Lansley being shifted out of Health. "Great!", shouted his many opponents, "A clean break from the dangerous meddling of the past!".
As Britain headed to work on a Tuesday morning like any other, Westminster was feeding on its diet of speculation even more than usual. The reshuffle laid bare David Cameron's aims for the rest of the parliament for all to see.
Tuesday's reshuffle thus marks the return to grace of the former Chief Secretary to the Treasury who, in May 2010, was forced to resign from his post only days into the job after his parliamentary expenses claims became the subject of close scrutiny, and then scandal. What had Laws done, and what are we to make of his return?
Prior to his election, David Cameron pledged to give a third of his first government's jobs to women. Following the election, his Cabinet of 23 had five women, a total of 22%. Now, following his reshuffle, there are four women in a larger cabinet of 29, producing a total of just under 14%. This is a pale shadow of what was promised.
David Cameron's first cabinet reshuffle since the General Election is marked by the continuity at the top of Government.
I suspect the prime minister will come to regret this reshuffle. As is so often the case, the Tory leader has proved himself to be all tactics, no strategy. He is also deeply out of touch with public opinion.
In one of the most controversial moves of his first reshuffle David Cameron pushed Justine Greening out of her job as transport secretary and brought in chief whip Patrick McLoughlin.
To appeal to a broader electorate, Cameron needs people in his Cabinet in the mould of Ken Clarke. But keeping Ken in Cabinet for his easy and affable way with the voters is insulting to him and to many of the views he holds.
"The Liberal Democrats are currently enjoying a surge of support which they will ride to an impressive victory in 2015", so says nobody. Although commentary of the party's plight in some corners of the press is unnecessarily exaggerated, not even Nick Clegg can deny they're on a bumpy path towards a pretty nasty result at the next election. It's now down to the deputy prime minister to create fork in the road - this week, he got his shovel out.
