Conservative reshuffle in full
In contrast to the Prime Minister, whose reshuffle began last night but is unlikely to finish until later on Thursday, Conservative leader Michael Howard has undertaken a surprise and complete overhaul of his front bench team.
The size of the shadow cabinet has increased to 17, with the return of John Redwood as Shadow Secretary of State for Deregulation, and the promotion of Shadow Defence Secretary Nicholas Soames and Head of Policy Co-Ordination David Cameron to the top rank.
The reshuffle has, however, seen John Bercow and Damian Green leave the front bench. Mr Bercow is replaced as Shadow International Development Secretary by Alan Duncan, formerly Shadow Constitutional Affairs Secretary, while Mr Green’s transport portfolio passes back to his former boss, Tim Yeo, the Shadow Environment and Transport Secretary.
Mr Duncan’s place as Shadow Constitutional Affairs Secretary passes to the Shadow Leader of the House, Oliver Heald.
John Whittingdale has replaced Julie Kirkbride as Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, while he has been replaced as Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary by the former Home Affairs spokesman James Paice.
George Osborne has been appointed as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, replacing Howard Flight, who has become the Conservatives’ “Special Envoy to the City of London”.
Julian Lewis has been appointed as Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office.
A whole host of junior spokespersons have been moved around as well.
Mark Simmonds, Graham Brady and the demoted Julie Kirkbride join the International Affairs team, while Andrew Robathan returns to the front bench as a Defence spokesman.
Andrew Mitchell has been appointed as a Home Affairs spokesman, while Hugh Robertson becomes spokesman for Sport.
Richard Spring and Mark Francois have been appointed as Economic Affairs spokesmen.
Finally, Desmond Swayne has taken over from Graham Brady as Mr Howard’s Parliamentary Private Secretary – a role he shares with Alistair Burt.
The junior Ministerial details of the Government’s reshuffle are expected to be announced later today.
