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| Cabinet reshuffle: Ken Clarke resigns as minster without porfolio | Cabinet reshuffle: Ken Clarke resigns as minster without porfolio |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Veteran minister Ken Clarke has retired from Government according to sources close to him, as Prime Minister David Cameron began a long-awaited cabinet reshuffle on Monday. | Veteran minister Ken Clarke has retired from Government according to sources close to him, as Prime Minister David Cameron began a long-awaited cabinet reshuffle on Monday. |
| Both Greg Barker, Energy and Climate Change Minister, and Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society, also announced they would be standing down from Government. | |
| Barker said after 10 years in the post - both in opposition and in Government - he would not seek re-election in Bexhill and Battle next year, while Hurd thanked his "friends and critics in our brilliant voluntary sector." | |
| "You have often driven me nuts but my respect and love is undimmed," he said of his resignation on Twitter. | |
| As Cameron is expected to take the opportunity to promote more women into key posts ahead of next year's general election, David Jones was removed from the cabinet as Welsh Secretary. "I totally understand his decision," said Jones. | |
| Am standing down having been given by DC the rare opportunity to do six years in a wonderful brief. Very proud of what we achieved. | Am standing down having been given by DC the rare opportunity to do six years in a wonderful brief. Very proud of what we achieved. |
| Nicknamed the 'big beast', Clarke launched his ministerial career in 1972 - when David Cameron was only 5-years-old - and held posts under four different Conservative Prime Ministers. | |
| He admitted that he had been "demob happy" for some time and had spent more of the past week at the England versus India cricket test match than in his office. | He admitted that he had been "demob happy" for some time and had spent more of the past week at the England versus India cricket test match than in his office. |
| "I shall carry on being MP for Rushcliffe. I'm afraid I'm a lifelong addict to politics," he told ITV News. | "I shall carry on being MP for Rushcliffe. I'm afraid I'm a lifelong addict to politics," he told ITV News. |
| Clarke added that he had enjoyed a "good long innings" in Government, and would continue to be "largely supportive" of Cameron from the back benches. | Clarke added that he had enjoyed a "good long innings" in Government, and would continue to be "largely supportive" of Cameron from the back benches. |
| His resignation comes after he was demoted from justice secretary to minister without without portfolio in the 2012 reshuffle, after his liberal attitude put him at odds with the Theresa May. Whitehall insiders described the relationship as "Theresa locks them up, Ken lets them out". | His resignation comes after he was demoted from justice secretary to minister without without portfolio in the 2012 reshuffle, after his liberal attitude put him at odds with the Theresa May. Whitehall insiders described the relationship as "Theresa locks them up, Ken lets them out". |
| There is growing speculation that Eric Pickles could be shifted to chief whip, with his communities and local government brief potentially being handed to a new Cabinet entrant. | There is growing speculation that Eric Pickles could be shifted to chief whip, with his communities and local government brief potentially being handed to a new Cabinet entrant. |
| David Willetts, who attends Cabinet as universities minister, is said to be under threat, as are Environment Secretary Owen Paterson and Leader of the House Andrew Lansley. | David Willetts, who attends Cabinet as universities minister, is said to be under threat, as are Environment Secretary Owen Paterson and Leader of the House Andrew Lansley. |
| Meanwhile, Margot James, Amber Rudd and Harriett Baldwin are among the MPs tipped for promotion as Cameron seeks to counter criticism that older men dominate his cabinet. | Meanwhile, Margot James, Amber Rudd and Harriett Baldwin are among the MPs tipped for promotion as Cameron seeks to counter criticism that older men dominate his cabinet. |
| It is also predicted that former defence secretary Liam Fox could return to the political front line, nearly three years after he quit in a row over his special adviser. | It is also predicted that former defence secretary Liam Fox could return to the political front line, nearly three years after he quit in a row over his special adviser. |
| Mr Cameron also needs to identify a new commissioner to represent the UK in Brussels. | Mr Cameron also needs to identify a new commissioner to represent the UK in Brussels. |
| He is thought to be reluctant to select an MP for the post and trigger a by-election that would suck up valuable resources. Former Tory leader Lord Howard of Lympne is among those being touted as a candidate. | He is thought to be reluctant to select an MP for the post and trigger a by-election that would suck up valuable resources. Former Tory leader Lord Howard of Lympne is among those being touted as a candidate. |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |