Shouldn't it be a shuffle ?

Certainly makes a change from the Labour government. They seemed to have a reshuffle on a weekly basis (although that was mostly Peter Mandelson's fault).

I'm disappointed to see Ken Clarke go - he's an antidote to the jackboot right, I think he's every liberal's favourite Tory (all things relative, of course). What's the point of a minister without portfolio, anyway? Surely it couldn't just be a way to pension someone off on a ministerial salary, could it?

_________________
LGBT football fans - let's kick homophobia out of football

RESURGAM

A way to keep him quiet, perhaps ?

Hunt for Health and Grayling for Justice are the interesting ones for me. Lansley was the accredited brainchild of the NHS reforms which are still in motion, so it will be interesting to see what happens there. Grayling meanwhile is somewhat more to the right of Ken Clarke so again, one to watch.

I can't understand the Clarke / Grayling shuffle. Clarke was a wet, but surely it is evident that his reforms were actually working? Grayling strikes me as the sort who will pander to the lynch mobs, making the MoJ a ministry that simply locks people away and punishes criminals without considering re-offending and rehabilitation.

Much of the current policy has been driven by the mantra that austerity measures are required and the perhaps-not-so-coincidental ideological side affect is a mere connivance. Will we see here the more expensive ideology - retribution ahead of rehabilitation and social cohesion - pursued ahead of the cheaper option, that Clarke has been implementing? For me this will be the coalition at it most naked in terms of it's dogmatic TINA.

Sacking Lansley to replace him with Hunt is also interesting. Was Lansley the sacrificial lamb for the unpopular NHS reforms? Will Hunt now add the finishing touches to the corporatisation of the NHS?

I rate Clarke and I rate Laws, so I look forward to them and Cable ruffling feathers in the treasury, I can't see Laws and Clarke been particularly busy with their current roles. I think their appointments are as close to the treasury Clegg and Cameron dare. Sometimes I wonder who is the prime minister as opposed to the Prime minister. One is palatable to the electorate the other gets booed in public.

Jeremy Hunt believes that homeopathy works. Watch out as the health budget is cut further and everyone needing medical help is encouraged to drink water with the memory of a drug in it. Oh well, I suppose that if we've got a Chancellor who doesn't understand economics, then why not have a Health Secretary who has no understanding of science?

_________________
www.twitter.com/quinny265

[i]"Ladies and gentlemen, I've suffered for my music ... now it's your turn"[/i]
Neil Innes (Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band)

The new equalities minister Heidi millar, voted against gay marriage, is against the religious and racial hatred bill and wants to define homophobia, racism etc as freedom of speech. EQUALITIES Minister!

_________________
Trust member number 640

You mean Maria Miller?

_________________
www.twitter.com/quinny265

[i]"Ladies and gentlemen, I've suffered for my music ... now it's your turn"[/i]
Neil Innes (Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band)

Yes! Two pints of Stella and I'm all Heidi!

_________________
Trust member number 640

Anyway, it's in keeping with Theresa Nay being equalities minister. Whilst in opposition she voted against every bit of Pro gay legislation that was put forwards, her first job in government...equalities minister.

_________________
Trust member number 640

I can't help but think that modern minsters are merely top-down accountants who enact policy by instructing civil servants on how to weight budgets, as opposed to people who want to roll up their sleeves and get involves. What I mean is that this government is a continuation of the presidential style of government that has existed for a more than fifteen years now. The country is run by a small cabal of party politicians not necessarily ministers with a nominal head, usually the most palatable to the electorate. Cabinet no longer rules the country and seems to operate in fear of aforementioned cabal. Ministers are appointed on subservient basis as opposed to speciality or even seemingly merit. Hense why somebody as ill-suited as Hunt is Minster of Health. He'll slash costs and will favour a free-market doctrine, dogmatically. Much will Grove in education.

But Quinny, you had a Health Secretary who understood the NHS intimately - probably better than no other since its inception. Yet his policies were deeply unpopular with many and by association, so was he. It probably matters not, it's hard to see how anyone can repeal the reforms at this stage even if they were minded to.

Which of course leaves the new health Secretary babysitting the final installment - and begs the question, how does Hunt make his mark ?

Probably by doing his usual, and highly convincing, impression of a complete idiot.

Give the NHS franchise to Murdoch?

With his "Communication skills" apparently.

_________________
If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?

It was never going to be an easy governmental period in office, don't think they're doing themselves any favours though.

I think we now need some strong leadership, a dictator perhaps, seeeing as we're losing our democracy anyway

_________________
If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?