Politics

Reshuffle: Portfolios without minister

Reshuffles may include a large number of random events but fear not: departments provide an effective sweeper function

July 17, 2014
Whitehall has been in turmoil this week as the Prime Minister carries out an ambitious reshuffle, but all will soon be calm once more
Whitehall has been in turmoil this week as the Prime Minister carries out an ambitious reshuffle, but all will soon be calm once more

We've all familiar with the title of "Minister Without Portfolio." Following this week's reshuffle, there are for the moment several "portfolios without Minister."

Nick Hurd has been replaced as Minister for Civil Society by Brooks Newmark. But Hurd had also during his time in the role acquired responsibility for youth policy. Michael Gove wanted the Department for Education to focus on what happens within schools and colleges, so the responsibilities for everything that Government may try to do with young people outside the education system passed to Hurd in 2013. For the moment it isn't clear whether Newmark has taken them on or the new Secretary of State at Education wants them back.

There seem to be some undeclared bits of the equalities agenda too. Same sex marriage is accounted for, the portfolio residing with Helen Grant, as are women on boards and body confidence, those are with Jo Swinson. But race and religion are among those missing from any specific portfolio.

But we needn't worry about the potential of escapees or sudden arbitrary acts of discrimination. Over the next few days discussions will be going on between the Secretary of State, the Permanent Secretary and junior Ministers to settle the details. Every subject area will be covered off by the weekend, even while pressure groups and sometimes Number 10 interject with their opinions on who should get what. I remember being involved in this process during my time in the Civil Service, preparing careful plans by which portfolios might be divided up, even proposing Ministerial objectives, and then watching those dissolve in conversation.

That didn't always happen, though the most painful conversation of this type I witnessed began with a newly appointed Minister talking at length about his passion for a specific subject area. He was subsequently told by the Secretary of State that he disagreed with every element of the approach the new appointee had described and this topic wasn't to be part of the Minister's portfolio after all.

Reshuffles may include a large number of random events but departments provide an effective sweeper function. There are some surprising responsibility gaps for the moment but, by the beginning of next week, the machinery of government will stand ready again for the complete task of administering the state.