Following the news this morning of Ken Clarke’s return to the Tory front-bench, PoliticsHome lists all the changes:
The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP [replaces Alan Duncan]
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory ReformMark Francois MP [current post, now promoted to shadow cabinet]
Shadow Minister for EuropeAlan Duncan MP [replaces Theresa May]
Shadow Leader of the House of CommonsChris Grayling MP [replaces Dominic Grieve]
Shadow Home SecretaryThe Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC MP [replaces Nick Herbert]
Shadow Secretary of State for JusticeNick Herbert MP [replaces Peter Ainsworth, who is sacked]
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsThe Rt Hon Theresa May MP [replaces Chris Grayling]
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Shadow Minister for WomenEric Pickles MP [replaces Caroline Spelman]
Chairman of the Conservative PartyCaroline Spelman MP [replaces Eric Pickles]
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
So, lots of post-shifting, but only one victim, the fairly hapless Peter Ainsworth, who (indirectly) makes way for Ken’s return.
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5 Comments
Mark Francois for Europe – hmmmm. Someone should do some research into his time as a Basildon councillor and his rumoured involvement in the far right at the time.
It won’t help them shrug off their deserved right wing headbanging image…
Chris Grayling at Home? Nooo!
I won’t be celebrating.
Ainsworth is a severe loss. He did sterling work in opposing the petrolheads, deniers & general morons in his party. But I’m hoping that Cameron & Boris taking a principled stance on Heathrow, as well as his recognition that sustainability is practical, economical & efficient (not to mention genuinely conservative) will see the Clarksonites off. Slight alamrm bells ring as to why they chose him as the only victim.
Ken Clarke is someone I’ve never liked. As well as his pro-EU views & love of the VAT cut, which I disagree with, he is just nasty in general.
I actually quite liked Grieve. Maybe the cut & thrust of the Home Office wasn’t for him, but I’d rather have him than Grayling, a known pal of that disgrace Workhouse James Purnell. This is a severe blow again.
I fear that the Conservative Party is becoming more effective but less pleasant! Undoubtedly if they win there’ll be a lot of deserved abuse for me to shout at them.
I’ve actually come to feel even worse in the writing of this…
The newcomers are unknown quantities to me as I’ve not been following them. I doubt any of them will get onto my Christmas card list.
is it me or does Chris Grayling look like Ian Duncan Smith?