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Lord Hill: a sharp brain in need of sharper elbows Lord Hill: a sharp brain in need of sharper elbows
(35 minutes later)
Lord Hill of Oareford has achieved the unique distinction of securing promotion to the cabinet after unsuccessfully trying to resign from the government.Lord Hill of Oareford has achieved the unique distinction of securing promotion to the cabinet after unsuccessfully trying to resign from the government.
The former political secretary to Sir John Major tried without success to resign as an education minister during the September reshuffle. Cameron was so distracted by the reshuffle that he mumbled that he hoped Hill would carry on with his good work, ensuring that he was the only member of Gove's team to survive the reshuffle. John Major's former political secretary tried without success to resign as an education minister in the coalition government during the September reshuffle. Cameron was so distracted by the reshuffle that he mumbled that he hoped Hill would carry on with his good work, ensuring that he was the only member of Gove's team to survive the reshuffle.
The appointment of Hill, 52, to the cabinet as leader of the Lords after the resignation of Lord Strathclyde will add to the brainpower round the cabinet table. He will give his former boss at the education department a run for his money as one of the more cerebral members of the cabinet. The appointment of Hill, 52, to the cabinet as leader of the Lords after the resignation of Lord Strathclyde will add to the brainpower around the cabinet table. He will give his former boss at the education department a run for his money as one of the more cerebral members of the cabinet.
But Hill's brain will count for little if he fails to develop sharp elbows in the House of Lords where relations between the coalition partners are fraught. His first challenge will come on Monday when Liberal Democrat peers, including ministers, are expected to delay plans to shrink the House of Commons until after the 2015 general election when they vote with Labour on an amendment to the electoral registration bill. The Lib Dems are using the vote to punish the Tories for killing off reform of the House of Lords in the summer. But Hill's brain will count for little if he fails to develop sharp elbows in the House of Lords, where relations between the coalition partners are fraught. His first challenge will come on Monday when Liberal Democrat peers, including ministers, are expected to delay plans to shrink the House of Commons until after the 2015 general election when they vote with Labour on an amendment to the electoral registration bill. The Lib Dems are using the vote to punish the Tories for killing off Lords reform in the summer.
A Cambridge history graduate, Hill has a similar pedigree to Cameron. He worked in the Conservative research department (big brains need only apply) between 1985-86, two years before Cameron joined. He then worked as a special adviser to Kenneth Clarke, who will now technically be his junior as a non-voting member of the cabinet. A Cambridge history graduate, Hill has a similar pedigree to Cameron. He worked in the Conservative research department (big brains only need apply) from 1985-86, two years before Cameron joined. He then worked as a special adviser to Kenneth Clarke, who will now technically be his junior as a non-voting member of the cabinet.
Hill had a brief stint in the private sector between 1989-91 with Lowe Bell Communications founded by the former adviser to Margaret Thatcher Tim Bell. He then returned to government in 1991 as a member of the No 10 policy unit, rising to become political secretary to the former prime minister between 1992-94. He returned to the private sector and made a surprise return to government after the 2010 election. Hill had a brief stint in the private sector from 1989-91 with Lowe Bell Communications, founded by the former adviser to Margaret Thatcher Tim Bell. He then returned to government in 1991 as a member of the No 10 policy unit, rising to become political secretary to the then prime minister John Major between 1992-94. He returned to the private sector and made a surprise return to government after the 2010 election.