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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Deputy Lib Dem leader Simon Hughes to join government | Deputy Lib Dem leader Simon Hughes to join government |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes is to join the government as a minister of state for justice. | Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes is to join the government as a minister of state for justice. |
| Mr Hughes, one of the most senior Lib Dems not yet to hold a ministerial position in the coalition, will replace Lord McNally who is to become chair of the Youth Justice Board. | Mr Hughes, one of the most senior Lib Dems not yet to hold a ministerial position in the coalition, will replace Lord McNally who is to become chair of the Youth Justice Board. |
| Mr Hughes has been an MP since 1983. | Mr Hughes has been an MP since 1983. |
| In another change, Lib Dem MP Jenny Willott is to replace Jo Swinson as business minister while she is on maternity leave. | In another change, Lib Dem MP Jenny Willott is to replace Jo Swinson as business minister while she is on maternity leave. |
| Ms Willot, who is currently a Lib Dem whip, will also retain that role. | Ms Willot, who is currently a Lib Dem whip, will also retain that role. |
| 'Passionate voice' | 'Passionate voice' |
| Announcing Mr Hughes' appointment, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he had been a "passionate voice for the party's principles and values" both in opposition and during the lifetime of the coalition. | Announcing Mr Hughes' appointment, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he had been a "passionate voice for the party's principles and values" both in opposition and during the lifetime of the coalition. |
| "Simon will now be able to use his talents inside the coalition, helping the Liberal Democrats to anchor the government in the centre ground and helping us to build a stronger economy and a fairer society, enabling everyone to get on in life," he said. | "Simon will now be able to use his talents inside the coalition, helping the Liberal Democrats to anchor the government in the centre ground and helping us to build a stronger economy and a fairer society, enabling everyone to get on in life," he said. |
| Mr Hughes, who will have responsibility for family justice, mediation, freedom of information and data protection among other issues, said it was a "privilege and huge responsibility" to join other Lib Dem ministers in government. | Mr Hughes, who will have responsibility for family justice, mediation, freedom of information and data protection among other issues, said it was a "privilege and huge responsibility" to join other Lib Dem ministers in government. |
| "Issues of justice and civil liberties have been my passions since I was a teenager," he said. "Justice and civil liberties are also core issues for every Liberal Democrat in the country." | "Issues of justice and civil liberties have been my passions since I was a teenager," he said. "Justice and civil liberties are also core issues for every Liberal Democrat in the country." |
| Mr Hughes has been a strong supporter of the coalition government although he abstained in a crucial vote on university tuition fee rises in 2010 and has been critical of cuts to housing benefit. | |
| The Lib Dems said Mr Hughes would step down as deputy party leader - a position to which he was elected in 2010 - but would stay in the post until a successor was chosen. | |
| Lord McNally has resigned from the government and will take up his new role in March. The Youth Justice Board was facing the axe in a cull of quangos but was reprieved following pressure from campaigners. | |
| In a related move, barrister and Conservative peer Lord Faulkes is to become the government's justice spokesman in the House of Lords. | In a related move, barrister and Conservative peer Lord Faulkes is to become the government's justice spokesman in the House of Lords. |