Wednesday, May 12, 2010

First Cabinet Posts Announced

I'll update this as they are announced.

DEPUTY PM: Nick Clegg
FOREIGN SECRETARY: William Hague
CHANCELLOR: George Osborne
EDUCATION: Michael Gove
DEFENCE: Liam Fox
HEALTH: Andrew Lansley
ENERGY & CLIMATE CHANGE: Chris Huhne
JUSTICE: Ken Clarke
HOME SECRETARY: Theresa May
CHIEF WHIP: Patrick McLoughlin
WORK & PENSIONS: Iain Duncan Smith
CHIEF SECRETARY: David Laws
BUSINESS SECRETARY: Vince Cable
PARTY CHAIRMAN: Sayeeda Warsi
DEFRA: Caroline Spelman
CABINET OFFICE: Francis Maude
DCLG: Eric Pickles
CULTURE, MEDIA & SPORT: Jeremy Hunt
NORTHERN IRELAND: Owen Paterson
TRANSPORT: Philip Hammond
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Andrew Mitchell
MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO: Oliver Letwin
WALES: Cheryl Gillan

DWP Minister of State: Chris Grayling
BUSINESS Minister of State: David Willetts (attends Cabinet)

53 comments:

James Burr said...

Must admit I liked a lot of your suggestions, Iain, especially Clarke as Chancellor and Davis as Home Secretary. Not sure about Lansley - in those dark days of Labour misrule he always came across as too Laboury-y for me - easily duped by the health lobby, reproducing their diktats about obesity, salt, sugar and booze without any thought. It was the nannying qulaities of Labour that made me loathe them with a passion. The economic ruin was just an added reason. Still, they do have a lot of talent to draw on now. This whole coalition thing could just work....

James Burr said...

Shame to see Gove booted out, too.

Anonymous said...

Cameron has missed an ideal opportunity to get rid of Lightweight Lansley, famous for Top Troughing, oink, oink.

Curmudgeon said...

Lansley has always struck me as very much a Nanny-stater, a pity we couldn't have someone in that post who believed people should take responsibility for their own health.

John Demetriou said...

This must be your wildest fantasy come true - A left wing Tory Party buddied up with a left wing social democrat Lib Dem Party.

How's that stupour, all worked up nicely? Pop back and tell me when you're calmed down.

Steve said...

Crikey Iain, batting 4 for 5, quit while you're ahead

Harry Matthews said...

Nick Clegg has been confirmed as Deputy PM...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/liveevent/

Anonymous said...

The first thing our new Chancellor should do is get the IMF in to produce a report on a basis that they may be needed in the future. It would ensure that the blame would reside where it belongs - GB and his disastrous economics. It would also ensure that St Vince understood what he had to do. Its a big job but it can be done, even with St Vince!

Houdini said...

Michael Gove should not have been sacrificed at Education. He may have volunteered, but he should have been kept there as he was a real asset during the election and before.

Jess The Dog said...

Will Paddy get anything? Doesn't deserve anything after his Lib-Lab shenanigans

Anonymous said...

Newsnight are saying Cable will NOT be treasury sec.

Anonymous said...

If free schools has been sacrificed, Fraser Nelson will go nuclear

Simon Gardner said...

This is the first Government in my lifetime that has actual democratic legitimacy. The first ever.

Londonerr said...

And here was I still waiting for Gordon Brown to outline his vision for our country. Glad to see the back of him, malignant man.

Anonymous said...

Iain, give us your thoughts on Gove not in education, please? His were the boldest plans in our manifesto, and he was one of our best election performers. If he hasn't been promoted, and not kept in position, it's a travesty.

Weygand said...

This is a genuine DC attempt to have a coalition government with an acknowledgement that compromises are essential - but after the self-regarding, antipathetic comments of Paddy Pantsdown on Today, it is hard to see why he should be a player.

He was a complete failure when an MP. The Lib Dem Kinnock - centre stage only once he ceased to be immediately accountable to the electorate and now wildly puffed and puffed up beyond his true value.

James Burr said...

Yes, I used to like Ashdown until this morning. His attempts at saying that a Lib-Lab pact was somehow democratic despite that little thing of the Tories having 2 million more votes and 80 more seats turned my stomach. I agree with Curmudgeon - I'd have liked to see someone with a backbone in Health. Someone who made the BMA et al realise that their job was to treat the ill not dictate policy. And someone who could see through the fake charities like ASH and Alcohol Concern and give them the time they deserved i.e. nothing. The Health Lobby are one of the most insidious, divisive forces in UK politics today and they ned to be curbed, not pandered to. Lansley (and unfortunately Cameron) have always been slow in coming forwards on Nanny issues despite their talk of "freedom" and "small state/big society." But we'll see.

Lady Finchley said...

Gove will get something better to be sure - he is too much of an asset and a memeber of the inner circle.

Dick Puddlecote said...

"HEALTH: Andrew Lansley"

More of the same hectoring crap, then. Pharmaceutical companies must be rubbing their hands in anticipation, especially with Ken Clarke out of the way.

On the bright side, business as usual for bloggers who despise interference in lifestyle choices. Nothing to get enthused about with him around, just a new authoritarian target.

Dick Puddlecote said...

"Lansley has always struck me as very much a Nanny-stater, a pity we couldn't have someone in that post who believed people should take responsibility for their own health."

And Curmudgeon echoes my concern. So much for 'change' then.

Unknown said...

I'm intrigued to see what portfolio Cable will get.

Despite his flip-flops in recent times and excessive hype, he is economically literate, smart and a good media performer.

As long as he's on board with the coalition's policies, he will be a big asset.

Straight with you Nick? said...

David Cameron should know that if you get into bed with the Whores of Cowley Street, you end up with the POX.

Roger Thornhill said...

@smileyman

Fraser going nuclear? *I* will go nuclear, for Ealing has gone Lurrber at the Borough Council and Toby Young is battling to get the West London Free School going and the last thing we need is the keys to the gun cabinet left with the LEA, which is likely with "golden retriever" Laws.

People speak highly of Laws, but if he supports hobbling school vouchers, he is, I am afraid, an Authoritarian scumbag.

Anonymous said...

Paddy Ashdown appeared on Sky this morning all in favour of the LabLib pact.

If he wants a foreign affairs portfolio I suggest ambassador to Venezuela, that should give him his fill of socialism.

Haden said...

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=118535538180463

Please show your dis-appreciation for the departed Labour government by joining this group

"Glad to see the back of Labour"

:)

Unknown said...

Are there truly no Doctors in the Conservative party that you have to stick with Lansley. I hope (new partners and all) DC's claim to be all about the NHS doesn't turn out to be like Blair's 'education, education, education' (did Blair actually pay any attention to education in all his time in office?)

The King of Wrong said...

BBC have announced that Liam Fox has got Defence, thankfully.

As much as I like Lord Ashdown, and think he talks a lot of sense, I don't think he's a good fit for Defence Secretary. The only reason he's mentioned in that direction is his military background, but that's what the Chiefs of Staff are there to provide - and ignored because they'll "obviously" support defence spending.

DespairingLiberal said...

Fascinating attack on the Cameron election team from Tim Montgomerie on Today at 07.18.

Montgomerie is clearly pointing the finger at Steve Hilton and Andy Coulson - the accusation is basically one of incompetence. One could not help but notice how peculiar Cameron's young staff looked outside Number 10 last night - they didn't inspire much confidence as a group. Not so much Bright Young Things as Odd Young Things.

Coulson and Hilton in particular looked actually quite sinister. Hilton was reminiscent of "The Fucker" in The Thick of It - he even looked like him!

This is important because we know from the NuLab years that one of the main flashpoints in the coalition is likely to be the relationship between Number 10 office and the DPM's office and cabinet minister's offices. Cameron will need to make some changes and do some firm sitting on people I think.

I'm surprised to see Coulson there - many of his "initiatives" backfired.

Not a sheep said...

I am not a huge fan of Ken Clarke, his Europhile views being anathema to me but as I blogged last night - 'Ken Clarke as Chancellor would have the big advantage of being able to remind the Labour party of the contrast between the golden economic legacy he left them in 1997 and the economic mess Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling have left him in return.'
More 'thoughts' here - http://notasheepmaybeagoat.blogspot.com/2010/05/cabinet.html

Anonymous said...

"Amnesty" Huhne as Home Secretary? No, no, no, we will not wear that. Park him at Justice if you must.

Paddy Briggs said...

Will Clegg get a proper job as well? If not what will he actually do - just be a symbol?

Sean said...

Despite its vast resources,the BBC website still has Vince Cable as business/bankinf as I write. The page says it was last updated at 7.30am this morning and curiously lists "OTHER LIB DEMS EXPECTED TO FEATURE IN COALITION CABINET" but no other Tories expected to do so.

Hmmm.

Snotrocket said...

And once the cabinet posts and minor ministries are sorted, it will be time for Cameron to start with the knives.

First, he should call in the head of the Electoral Commission and give her the chance to resign, or sack her.

Then, he should call for the Speaker to step down - on the basis that convention dictates that the Speaker is NOT a member of the governing party.

That'll do to start with...I'm sure you can make a list..

Unknown said...

I hope Davis gets the Home Office.
His admirable stand to resign his seat over his principles seems to have got lost in the recent campaign

(And I'm someone who voted Libdem)

Robert said...

The not-the Conservative party has formed the not-the Conservative government.

Unknown said...

Home Sec is the poisoned chalice of the top jobs. Why do you think we have had so many of them?

So much to sort out...a completely out of control senior civil service for a start. Any senior post will probably have been a political appointment (Lin Homer in UKBA for eg)and have brought their cronies with them. They need a big broom through the major ranks before they can even start to put to make it fit for purpose. They need to have give the HO it's impartiality back and listen to those people with decades of experience of the Home Office, not someone who used to run a city council (badly).

Unlike Labour, they have to realise that targets are irrelevant if they impede actual delivery, and it is to the 'delivery end' they should go to for guidance on policy. They have a long way to go and a huge amount of disastrous issues to deal with (not least the aftermath of the bully-boy culture and the resultant and costly employment tribunals they have inherited)

neil craig said...

Chris Huhne - Energy & Climate Change

So while the LDs have sold out the option of us getting a choice of a democratic electoral system for getting their feet under the table the Conservatives have sold out our electricity supply, meaning ever household now paying £1243 annually for electricity when it could be £300, will see that rise to £2000 & we will also have massive blackouts. Since you can't gave an economy without electricity that means they have sold out any possibility of anything but long term recession. But they get their feet under the table too.

Ken Haylock said...

So what's happening with "the grand repeal", the bonfire of the quangos or the civil liberties agenda?

Dilettante said...

Theresa May as Home Sec. - nice to see her get a decent job.

Anonymous said...

any comment on Teresa May being equalities minister with a worse voting record on gay rights than 'homophobic' chris grayling??

Conand said...

Clarification:

(Conservative) PARTY CHAIRMAN: Sayeeda Warsi

Conand said...

Fingers crossed for Shailesh Vara to be Leader of The House, Lord Privy Seal etc.

Unsworth said...

@ Alex

"I'm intrigued to see what portfolio Cable will get.

Despite his flip-flops in recent times and excessive hype, he is economically literate, smart and a good media performer."


Clearly you didn't see him being shredded by Andrew Neil and Stephanie Flanders. Very edifying - and somewhat worrying as it vividly highlighted his major limitations.

gadfly said...

Philip Hammond: vested interests in the property development business; served on the environment, transport and the regions select committee from 1997 to 1998; spoke on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's responsibilities in 2003.

These all indicate links with John Prescott. Great choice for the Department for Transport.

Unknown said...

Iain,

Any reason for leaving out Defence?

Julian the Wonderhorse said...

What happened to Nick Herbert?

Cantstandcant said...

Despairing Liberal - I'd in particular be interested to know what the Deputy Prime Minister thinks of Mr Coulson after some of his media coverage!

Unknown said...

I'm not a Tory fanboy (I voted LibDem) but I have to say that this is one very impressive cabinet.

I'm especially pleased about IDS. He's been an unsung hero to many political geeks since he was ousted as leader. The work he has done on poverty in society has been excellent.

I only have one criticism of David Cameron today...

If he had announced that Frank Field was to be given the job of REALLY thinking the unthinkable in a Tory - LibDem government I'm sure that he would jump 10 points in the polls overnight.

There would be no Gordon Brown to force him out this time.

Still, no-one is perfect.

Unknown said...

See list of Gvnt ministers from No 10 website. Cleggy has special responsibility for political and constitutional reform...wonder what that tells us?

Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council (with special responsibility for political and constitutional reform)

The Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP

Unknown said...

Woman or the right just wants to hold his banana

wendy mann said...

Whats more revealing is that the key war hawks (and pro Israel regardless of Palestinian legitimate rights) who will follow Obama into Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran et al are in top place - Cameron, Osborne, Hague, Fox and May.

The Great Offices of State are called that for a reason. They dominate any government and to a large extent other ministers room for manoeuvre is massively constrained by them.

add this to on the agreement:

Additionally it seems that a majority of 55% will be required to oust a fixed parliament under the new legislation. It says that if the relationship breaks down, a vote of no confidence can be passed - but it would need 55% of the house to succeed, which is impossible unless some Tory politicians vote for it.

Funny that there are 20 Lib Dems in govt posts.Those 20 plus the Tories 306 gives a current majority in the House.

Quite calculating, eh.

Anonymous said...

As Mrs Thatcher said - 'every PM needs a Willie'.

Can Clegg be Cameron's 'Willie'?

PM Blair did not have one - Prescott was a clown (with Brown the gender opposite of a willy), and PM Brown did not have one. Harman was an harridan and Mandelson a Machiavelli. Maybe thats why, despite their longevity, their governments ended up ruining Britain.

Unknown said...

I believe the worst aspect of this coalition is that Grant Shapps is left with nothing, despite his loyal years in the Cameron shadow cabinet.

To think that last year The Times even reported that he would become Foreign Secretary in a Cameron cabinet as Hague moved to Deputy PM.

I'm sure there are other similar loyal MPs who Cameron has shafted so the Lib Dems can give him legitimacy.