Politis editor Thom Hollick looks at September’s Cabinet reshuffle, and examines the possible┬áimplications┬áfor government policy.
September finally brought an end to ParliamentÔÇÖs long summer recess and also meant a new look Cabinet that contained some new faces who could have wide-ranging effects in the weeks and months ahead.
ItÔÇÖs a favourite hobby of Political Commentators to dismiss reshuffles like this one as completely meaningless, since the bulk of the voting public probably do not know who the old cabinet were, let alone the new ministers who will be replacing them. But as well as this being mildly offensive to the intelligence of the population, it seems just incorrect, as frequently, ministers are shuffled out of office in order to make way for a new policy.
The prime example from this reshuffle is the removal of Justine Greening as Secretary of State for Transport. She was inside No. 10 for over an hour before she finally came out and announced moodily that she had been appointed as the new International Development Secretary, suggesting she definitely saw it as a demotion. The rumoured reason for her removal was her long-standing opposition to the building of a third runway at Heathrow airport as she is MP for the London Borough of Putney which lies right beneath possible new flight-paths. Her successor is former Chief Whip Patrick McLoughlin, who is on record as being ÔÇ£open-mindedÔÇØ about a possible third runway. Unsurprisingly, opponents of a third runway have widely criticized this change, the most high-profile of which was London Mayor Boris Johnson who described Greening as ÔÇ£a first-rate Transport secretaryÔÇØ.
Elsewhere there were other important changes, including the move of Jeremy Hunt to the role of Health Secretary. The former Culture Secretary replaces Andrew Lansley, who himself replaces Sir George Young as Leader of the House of Commons, but it would be fair to say both men have faced their share of controversy over the last 12 months. While Hunt seems to have survived a potentially fatal series of misadventures over Rupert MurdochÔÇÖs failed bid for BskyB and then giving evidence to the phone-hacking inquiry, he also presided over the success of LondonÔÇÖs Olympics, and buoyed up by that he has landed a job he described as ÔÇ£the biggest privilege of [his] lifeÔÇØ. On the other hand, Andrew Lansley faced huge problems getting his controversial NHS reforms package through Parliament, and faced strong criticism from health professionals such as the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nurses. He has said that Health was the only government department he was ever interested in, so he will be disappointed by this move.
It was not a good reshuffle for women or ethnic minorities (not that there are many choices for David Cameron in the current Conservative Parliamentary party), with Greening and Baroness Warsi being demoted to lower government roles, and Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan and Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman being removed altogether. Despite David Cameron claiming he would like a third of his Cabinet to be women, even after promoting Maria Miller to Culture and Theresa Villiers to Northern Ireland, only four of his twenty seven strong Cabinet are women. On a side note, seventeen are Oxbridge educated.
The reshuffle finally sees the return of a Welsh MP to the role of Welsh Secretary, with David Jones stepping into the role after a fairly long career in Welsh politics both in Westminster and in Cardiff.
The real question we need to ask about this new cabinet is whether or not it signifies a change of direction for the government. All the main players like George Osborne, Theresa May and William Hague are still in position, so that does not suggest any sort of radical departure, but a number of the changes lower down hint towards a subtle repositioning for the Conservative leadership, perhaps to keep the rank-and-file Tories subdued. The elevation of right-wingers like Owen Paterson (the new Environment secretary), Maria Miller, and above all, of Chris Grayling to the role of Justice Secretary, suggest the age of Ken ClarkeÔÇÖs more Liberal brand of Conservatism may be coming to an end. Clarke was not removed entirely, but kept on as minister without portfolio, to advise on economic and other matters.
The Liberal Democrat side of the government on the other hand announced only minor readjustments amongst its lower-ranking ministers. If it fails to assert itself against a Conservative Party drifting rightwards, the party could find itself even more the awkward partner as Government policy on Europe and Social affairs stray even further from what they would hope.
The overall outcome of this reshuffle will probably not be known for some time; all ministers fall into controversial circumstances sooner or later, it just remains to be seen how well the new recruits will cope with such pressures. In terms of a change of policy direction, that too will probably happen incrementally, but David Cameron will no doubt be hoping that this host of fresh faces will be able to revitalize the government with new ideas, perhaps reversing its declining poll ratings. But on the issue of the third runway at least, it looks like a decision will be deferred until some sort of consensus can be reached.
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