This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/aug/31/david-cameron-first-reshuffle-expected

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
David Cameron's first reshuffle expected next week David Cameron's first reshuffle expected next week
(about 7 hours later)
David Cameron is planning to embark on his first substantial ministerial reshuffle early next week, in a move that will see the departure of ministers from all levels of government.David Cameron is planning to embark on his first substantial ministerial reshuffle early next week, in a move that will see the departure of ministers from all levels of government.
Amid fears in No 10 that a reshuffle could distract attention from substantive policy issues, Downing Street is planning a series of major announcements over the weekend and on Monday before the prime minister wields the ministerial axe. Amid fears in No 10 that a reshuffle could distract attention from substantive policy issues, Downing Street is planning a series of major announcements over the weekend and on Monday before the prime minister wields the axe.
George Osborne is expected to unveil new plans on growth, focusing on changes to planning laws, when he appears on the Andrew Marr Show on BBC1 on Sunday morning. George Osborne is expected to unveil new plans on growth, focusing on changes to planning laws, when he appears on the Andrew Marr Show on BBC1 on Sunday .
Downing Street is keeping the lid on the reshuffle, which is being run by a highly disciplined – and discreet – four-strong group led by the prime minister. The other members are Osborne, the No 10 chief of staff, Ed Llewellyn, and his deputy, Kate Fall. Downing Street is keeping the lid on the reshuffle, which is being run by a disciplined – and discreet – four-strong group led by the prime minister. The other members are Osborne, the No 10 chief of staff, Ed Llewellyn, and his deputy, Kate Fall.
They are consulting William Hague, the foreign secretary, and Patrick McLoughlin, the chief whip, who may decide to return to the backbenches after 17 years in the Tory whips' office. Nick Clegg is advising the prime minister on Liberal Democrat appointments. David Laws, the Lib Dem former chief secretary to the Treasury, is expected to return to the government as a member of the Cabinet Office policy machine. Jo Swinson, Clegg's parliamentary private secretary, is also expected to be promoted.They are consulting William Hague, the foreign secretary, and Patrick McLoughlin, the chief whip, who may decide to return to the backbenches after 17 years in the Tory whips' office. Nick Clegg is advising the prime minister on Liberal Democrat appointments. David Laws, the Lib Dem former chief secretary to the Treasury, is expected to return to the government as a member of the Cabinet Office policy machine. Jo Swinson, Clegg's parliamentary private secretary, is also expected to be promoted.
It is understood that the reshuffle may be more wide-ranging than previously expected. Kenneth Clarke, the justice secretary, has been fighting attempts to demote him to be leader of the House of Commons, a post currently held by Sir George Young. It is understood the reshuffle may be more wide-ranging than previously expected. Ken Clarke, the justice secretary, has been fighting attempts to demote him to leader of the House of Commons, a post held by Sir George Young.
A series of middle and junior ranking ministers are due to return to the backbenches. Crispin Blunt, the prisons minister, and Jonathan Djanogly, the justice minister, are due to leave Clarke's department. Gerald Howarth and Andrew Robathan are due to leave the Ministry of Defence. Lady Warsi, the Conservative party chairman, said on Friday she wanted to remain in her post. "If I genuinely had a choice, I would like to stay doing what I'm doing," she told the Daily Telegraph.
The prime minister is highly sceptical about reshuffles after watching the annual games of musical chairs under Tony Blair which were designed, but failed, to refresh the government. In opposition the prime minister said he wanted ministers at all levels of government, from cabinet-rank secretaries of state to lowly parliamentary under secretaries of state, to remain in post for a decent period of time so they became experts in their portfolio. "If you look at the demographics, at where we [as a party] need to be at the next election, we need more people in the north voting for us, more of what ... I call the white working class. We need more people from urban areas voting for us, more people who are not white and more women.
"I play that back and think, 'I'm a woman, I'm not white, I'm from an urban area, I'm from the north, I'm working class – I kind of fit the bill. All the groups that we're aiming for are groups that I'm familiar with."
A series of middle- and junior-ranking ministers are due to return to the backbenches. Crispin Blunt, the prisons minister, and Jonathan Djanogly, the justice minister, are expected to leave Clarke's department, while Gerald Howarth and Andrew Robathan are scheduled to leave the Ministry of Defence.
Cameron is sceptical about reshuffles after watching the annual games of musical chairs under Tony Blair, which were designed, but failed, to refresh the government. In opposition Cameron said he wanted ministers at all levels of government, from cabinet-rank secretaries of state to lowly parliamentary under secretaries of state, to remain in post for a decent period of time so they became experts in their portfolio.
But he needs to reshuffle the pack because some ministers have performed below par and some want to move on. There are also former shadow ministers from the 2005 intake who missed out on a red box when the Tories failed to win a majority in 2010. Some space will also be made for the ever impatient members of the 2010 intake of Tory MPs, who account for 49% of the parliamentary party.But he needs to reshuffle the pack because some ministers have performed below par and some want to move on. There are also former shadow ministers from the 2005 intake who missed out on a red box when the Tories failed to win a majority in 2010. Some space will also be made for the ever impatient members of the 2010 intake of Tory MPs, who account for 49% of the parliamentary party.
Clegg wants Laws to play an important role in advising on early intervention for toddlers and on the economy. In his interview with the Guardian this week the deputy prime minister said: "[David] has got a very fine economic brain. He has probably got as much of an understanding about the way the economy works as anyone else. I am very lucky, with Vince Cable, with Danny Alexander, with Steve Webb, with Ed Davey. I have got a fantastically economically literate top team. I have been speaking to all of them over the summer."Clegg wants Laws to play an important role in advising on early intervention for toddlers and on the economy. In his interview with the Guardian this week the deputy prime minister said: "[David] has got a very fine economic brain. He has probably got as much of an understanding about the way the economy works as anyone else. I am very lucky, with Vince Cable, with Danny Alexander, with Steve Webb, with Ed Davey. I have got a fantastically economically literate top team. I have been speaking to all of them over the summer."
Clegg, who will mainly advise the prime minister on Lib Dem appointments, will will make clear his views on some Tory ministers. In his Guardian interview he said it was entirely a matter for the prime minister to decide the future of Clarke, who is often referred to as the sixth Lib Dem cabinet minister.Clegg, who will mainly advise the prime minister on Lib Dem appointments, will will make clear his views on some Tory ministers. In his Guardian interview he said it was entirely a matter for the prime minister to decide the future of Clarke, who is often referred to as the sixth Lib Dem cabinet minister.
But Clegg made clear that he would like Clarke to remain as a senior cabinet minister when he said: "I am a huge fan of Ken. I sit next to him around the cabinet table. I think he is a huge reserve of wit and wisdom. He provides a sense of perspective on the ups and downs of government which is incredibly helpful because he has seen so much of it before. He is also one of those politicians who has got a lot of earthy common sense.But Clegg made clear that he would like Clarke to remain as a senior cabinet minister when he said: "I am a huge fan of Ken. I sit next to him around the cabinet table. I think he is a huge reserve of wit and wisdom. He provides a sense of perspective on the ups and downs of government which is incredibly helpful because he has seen so much of it before. He is also one of those politicians who has got a lot of earthy common sense.
"I don't agree with him on everything. He is a Conservative. But his basic outlook on reform of the justice system, protection of civil liberties, his internationalist outlook, are ones I am very comfortable with.""I don't agree with him on everything. He is a Conservative. But his basic outlook on reform of the justice system, protection of civil liberties, his internationalist outlook, are ones I am very comfortable with."