David Cameron has been promoting, moving and in a couple of cases demoting colleagues as he seeks to fill his first post-coalition cabinet. While the top jobs remain largely unchanged, the departure of senior Liberal Democrats has given the Prime Minister plenty of new space to play with. Below, we've run through some of the most important new appointments.
What can we expect? As a former banker, albeit one whose City-friendly image is tempered by his origins as the son of a bus driver, business is a natural choice for Javid. He'll certainly be more at home there than he was in the arts world—his favourite film is said to be It's a Wonderful Life and his favourite band is U2. Javid is on the libertarian right of the party—earlier this year he told an event at Policy Exchange that he wooed his wife by reading her passages from Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead. You can therefore expect to see him lobbying for less red tape and more tax relief—he is also an opponent of state bailouts for banks. Unlike his former boss Osborne, though, he's a committed Eurosceptic, so will be well-placed to assuage fears about an in-out referendum among business leaders.
What can we expect? Clark is well-qualified for a role which is supposed to be about empowering local government. As Financial Secretary to the Treasury he was a key architect of the last government's devolution programme, helping to negotiate complex “city deals,” which handed powers down to the country's metropolises on a case by case basis. Where Pickles was often criticised for a conservative (small-c), overly centralising approach, Clark once wrote: “Over-mighty and over-extended, the Government has, for decades, robbed our cities of their trump card: their ability to do things differently.” Expect to see a lot of new conversations opened up with local and regional authorities and endless chatter about the Northern Powerhouse.
What can we expect? Justice is not a policy area normally associated with Gove (though several papers have reported that as a Times columnist he once called for the reintroduction of hanging), but he is known as a dogged reformist and an unconventional thinker. David Cameron will rely on those qualities when Gove undertakes one of this government's trickiest jobs: creating a new Human Rights Act. The Conservatives have promised to scrap our existing law—based on a European treaty—and create a new bespoke British one. This will require Gove to do battle with entrenched expert opinion, draw on a range of unconventional influences and have the confidence to push highly emotive reforms through a sceptical parliament. Those are all conditions under which he thrived as Education Secretary.
What can we expect? The tree-huggers of Britain have breathed a collective sigh of relief at Rudd's appointment—she's not a climate change sceptic (unlike 53 per cent of her Tory colleagues, according to one poll), and shares her predecessor's enthusiasm for encouraging private sector investment in renewable energy. Green campaigners including Greenpeace have welcomed the promotion. Rudd's approach is likely to be light-touch; she is a committed Thatcherite who thinks that the market holds the solutions to the Earth's biggest problems. “The first world leader to speak about climate change at the UN was Margaret Thatcher and she of course was a scientist and the science is completely compelling,” she once told Businessgreen. “If I'm challenged on it by any of my own party—although I haven't been—I would say 'I'm a Thatcherite—aren't you?'"
What can we expect? Mundell has worked in Holyrood and Westminster, and is a close ally of Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, so he knows his new brief well. The Conservative Manifesto promised to devolve new powers to Scotland in line with the devolutionary Strathclyde and Smith Commissions, but a fair bit of that detail—for example exactly which welfare powers are to be devolved—still needs to be worked out, and Cameron will hope that having a Scot in post will lessen the power of the newly-bolsetered SNP to complain about what they get. That said, with the Scottish Conservatives now positioning themselves as the main opposition to the SNP in Holyrood, the appointment may prove divisive in the longer term.
What job? Whittingdale has taken on Javid's old job as Culture Secretary
What can we expect? As a chair of the culture select committee in the Commons for much of the past decade, Whittingdale knows his new brief extremely well. That will come in handy, as the next parliament contains a major decision for the department; the BBC's current charter will expire in 2016, and Whittingdale will need to decide what becomes of the broadcaster. He has been an outspoken opponent of the licence fee in the past, though a report by his committee did say it probably needed to remain in place until 2025. An opponent of statutory regulation of the press—which also falls within his new brief—Whittingdale is capable of talking tough to media barons like Rupert Murdoch, but is unlikely to anger newspaper editors with a heavy handed approach.
What can we expect? Hancock replaced Francis Maude, who stood down as an MP at the election. One of George Osborne's key targets in this parliament is to find up to £15bn of Whitehall efficiency savings, and Hancock has likely been chosen to lead on this in part because of his close working relationship with the Chancellor.
What can we expect? Once described as the government's “mainframe computer” by David Cameron, Letwin had a quiet backroom role co-ordinating policy between departments and parties in the Coalition. His new role, which sees him oversee a “government policy” brief, is likely to cover similar areas, but as a full member of Cabinet Letwin is now closer to the heart of government, and will enjoy more power.
What can we expect? Stowell is unlikely to have any new specific powers or mandates. But Tory modernisers will be happy that she has been brought closer to the heart of government—the former BBC head of corporate affairs was instrumental in guiding the same sex marriage bill through the Lords, even at one point using an analogy about being married to George Clooney to explain her points.
What can we expect? Grayling's reforms at the Ministry of Justice proved extremely controversial with many lawyers. He will need to strike a more concilitory tone as he negotiates the tricky Tory proposals on English Vote for English Laws.
What can we expect? Harper is one of Cameron's most loyal allies in his party. That will serve the Prime Minister well—he'll need to work extremely closely with his Chief Whip to quell backbench rebellions on controversial issues like the Human Rights Act and Europe, given his tiny majority.
What can we expect? Boris is a favourite to lead the party once Cameron stands down. Expect him to remain broadly loyal, for now, while looking for moments when he can make his mark and show his personality to the public.
What can we expect? A former Parliamentary Private Secretary to George Osborne, Hands is likely to prove a rock-solid ally to the Chancellor over the coming few years of difficult savings.
What can we expect? Yet another close Osborne ally (his fingerprints are all over this reshuffle, if you hadn't noticed), Patel is close to her old boss but, like Javid, differs from the Chancellor in her Euroscepticism—she once worked for James Goldsmith's anti-EU Referendum Party. As Employment minister she will be in a high-profile, high-pressure position; the government is likely to push for further impressive job creation as a means of lessening the welfare bill.
What can we expect? A handy man to have on your side, Halfon has won awards for his dogged style of campaigning. Most notably, his "petrol promise" campaign for lower motoring costs helped to convince George Osborne to scrap or delay each of his planned fuel duty hikes. Halfon has also been made Deputy Chairman of the Conservative party—a good job for a popular local MP well placed to help the party connect with voters.
And finally, a demotion...
What can we expect? Though he helped mastermind an ultimately effective election campaign, Shapps is a divisive figure. In peacetime, Cameron might not see a role for him on the front lines.
Sajid Javid
What job? Javid has been moved from his last role as Secretary of State for Culture and into a new position as Business Secretary, the job vacated by the unseated Lib Dem MP Vince Cable. Javid was always going to rise fast—his first Ministerial role was at the Treasury and he's a protege of George Osborne, a surefire route to the top in the modern Tory party.What can we expect? As a former banker, albeit one whose City-friendly image is tempered by his origins as the son of a bus driver, business is a natural choice for Javid. He'll certainly be more at home there than he was in the arts world—his favourite film is said to be It's a Wonderful Life and his favourite band is U2. Javid is on the libertarian right of the party—earlier this year he told an event at Policy Exchange that he wooed his wife by reading her passages from Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead. You can therefore expect to see him lobbying for less red tape and more tax relief—he is also an opponent of state bailouts for banks. Unlike his former boss Osborne, though, he's a committed Eurosceptic, so will be well-placed to assuage fears about an in-out referendum among business leaders.
Greg Clark
What job? Clark has been promoted from a role as Universities Minister to become Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. He replaces Eric Pickles, who has become one of the few Tories to be demoted, taking on a new non-cabinet position as government anti-corruption Tsar.What can we expect? Clark is well-qualified for a role which is supposed to be about empowering local government. As Financial Secretary to the Treasury he was a key architect of the last government's devolution programme, helping to negotiate complex “city deals,” which handed powers down to the country's metropolises on a case by case basis. Where Pickles was often criticised for a conservative (small-c), overly centralising approach, Clark once wrote: “Over-mighty and over-extended, the Government has, for decades, robbed our cities of their trump card: their ability to do things differently.” Expect to see a lot of new conversations opened up with local and regional authorities and endless chatter about the Northern Powerhouse.
Michael Gove
What job? Popular within the party but divisive for the electorate, Gove was moved from his high profile role as Education Secretary to a backroom job as Chief Whip at the end of the last parliament. He's now been put back on to the frontline with the position of Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor.What can we expect? Justice is not a policy area normally associated with Gove (though several papers have reported that as a Times columnist he once called for the reintroduction of hanging), but he is known as a dogged reformist and an unconventional thinker. David Cameron will rely on those qualities when Gove undertakes one of this government's trickiest jobs: creating a new Human Rights Act. The Conservatives have promised to scrap our existing law—based on a European treaty—and create a new bespoke British one. This will require Gove to do battle with entrenched expert opinion, draw on a range of unconventional influences and have the confidence to push highly emotive reforms through a sceptical parliament. Those are all conditions under which he thrived as Education Secretary.
Amber Rudd
What Job? Rudd has been promoted from Climate Change Minister to head of Department as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. She replaces Ed Davey, her Lib Dem predecessor ousted from his seat at the election.What can we expect? The tree-huggers of Britain have breathed a collective sigh of relief at Rudd's appointment—she's not a climate change sceptic (unlike 53 per cent of her Tory colleagues, according to one poll), and shares her predecessor's enthusiasm for encouraging private sector investment in renewable energy. Green campaigners including Greenpeace have welcomed the promotion. Rudd's approach is likely to be light-touch; she is a committed Thatcherite who thinks that the market holds the solutions to the Earth's biggest problems. “The first world leader to speak about climate change at the UN was Margaret Thatcher and she of course was a scientist and the science is completely compelling,” she once told Businessgreen. “If I'm challenged on it by any of my own party—although I haven't been—I would say 'I'm a Thatcherite—aren't you?'"
David Mundell
What job? Mundell has been promoted to Secretary of State for Scotland—as Scotland's only Tory MP, he was the obvious choice.What can we expect? Mundell has worked in Holyrood and Westminster, and is a close ally of Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, so he knows his new brief well. The Conservative Manifesto promised to devolve new powers to Scotland in line with the devolutionary Strathclyde and Smith Commissions, but a fair bit of that detail—for example exactly which welfare powers are to be devolved—still needs to be worked out, and Cameron will hope that having a Scot in post will lessen the power of the newly-bolsetered SNP to complain about what they get. That said, with the Scottish Conservatives now positioning themselves as the main opposition to the SNP in Holyrood, the appointment may prove divisive in the longer term.
John Whittingdale
What job? Whittingdale has taken on Javid's old job as Culture Secretary
What can we expect? As a chair of the culture select committee in the Commons for much of the past decade, Whittingdale knows his new brief extremely well. That will come in handy, as the next parliament contains a major decision for the department; the BBC's current charter will expire in 2016, and Whittingdale will need to decide what becomes of the broadcaster. He has been an outspoken opponent of the licence fee in the past, though a report by his committee did say it probably needed to remain in place until 2025. An opponent of statutory regulation of the press—which also falls within his new brief—Whittingdale is capable of talking tough to media barons like Rupert Murdoch, but is unlikely to anger newspaper editors with a heavy handed approach.
Matt Hancock
What job? Hancock, a former Chief of Staff to George Osborne, has been made Cabinet Office Minister in charge of Civil Service reform.What can we expect? Hancock replaced Francis Maude, who stood down as an MP at the election. One of George Osborne's key targets in this parliament is to find up to £15bn of Whitehall efficiency savings, and Hancock has likely been chosen to lead on this in part because of his close working relationship with the Chancellor.
Oliver Letwin
What job? Letwin has been promoted from “Minister for Government Policy” to Head of the Cabinet Office.What can we expect? Once described as the government's “mainframe computer” by David Cameron, Letwin had a quiet backroom role co-ordinating policy between departments and parties in the Coalition. His new role, which sees him oversee a “government policy” brief, is likely to cover similar areas, but as a full member of Cabinet Letwin is now closer to the heart of government, and will enjoy more power.
Baroness Stowell
What job? Stowell remains leader of the Lords and Lord Privy Seal, but will now be invited to attend Cabinet.What can we expect? Stowell is unlikely to have any new specific powers or mandates. But Tory modernisers will be happy that she has been brought closer to the heart of government—the former BBC head of corporate affairs was instrumental in guiding the same sex marriage bill through the Lords, even at one point using an analogy about being married to George Clooney to explain her points.
Chris Grayling
What job? Grayling has been moved from his previous role as Justice Secretary to Leader of the House of Commons.What can we expect? Grayling's reforms at the Ministry of Justice proved extremely controversial with many lawyers. He will need to strike a more concilitory tone as he negotiates the tricky Tory proposals on English Vote for English Laws.
Mark Harper
What job? Harper has been promoted to chief whip, replacing Michael Gove.What can we expect? Harper is one of Cameron's most loyal allies in his party. That will serve the Prime Minister well—he'll need to work extremely closely with his Chief Whip to quell backbench rebellions on controversial issues like the Human Rights Act and Europe, given his tiny majority.
Boris Johnson
What job? It's unclear exactly in what capacity, but the Mayor of London is to be invited to attend cabinet, presumably to smooth things over until he stands down from his mayoral role in 2016 and is able to take up a big job.What can we expect? Boris is a favourite to lead the party once Cameron stands down. Expect him to remain broadly loyal, for now, while looking for moments when he can make his mark and show his personality to the public.
Greg Hands
What job? Chief Secretary to the TreasuryWhat can we expect? A former Parliamentary Private Secretary to George Osborne, Hands is likely to prove a rock-solid ally to the Chancellor over the coming few years of difficult savings.
Priti Patel
What job? Employment Minister, attending cabinetWhat can we expect? Yet another close Osborne ally (his fingerprints are all over this reshuffle, if you hadn't noticed), Patel is close to her old boss but, like Javid, differs from the Chancellor in her Euroscepticism—she once worked for James Goldsmith's anti-EU Referendum Party. As Employment minister she will be in a high-profile, high-pressure position; the government is likely to push for further impressive job creation as a means of lessening the welfare bill.
Robert Halfon
What job? Minister without portfolioWhat can we expect? A handy man to have on your side, Halfon has won awards for his dogged style of campaigning. Most notably, his "petrol promise" campaign for lower motoring costs helped to convince George Osborne to scrap or delay each of his planned fuel duty hikes. Halfon has also been made Deputy Chairman of the Conservative party—a good job for a popular local MP well placed to help the party connect with voters.
And finally, a demotion...
Grant Shapps
What Job? Shapps has been moved to a ministerial role at DFID, a step down from his post as party ChairmanWhat can we expect? Though he helped mastermind an ultimately effective election campaign, Shapps is a divisive figure. In peacetime, Cameron might not see a role for him on the front lines.
