Well it was as expected, bar one or two surprises and that is how all such reshuffles should be. Am pleased with most of it. Beckett out of the cabinet, Miliband replacing her, Benn at Environment (which is a vital post at this time), Jowell demoted and Hoon given another demotion.
Lets hope that Hodge goes in tomorrows ministerial reshuffle!
6 comments:
Hoon was europe minister before, which isn't an official cabinet position. Now he's chief whip, which is. That's a promotion.
Paul
As someone who is fairly plugged in to Christian socialist circles, can you tell us anything about why Stephen Timms got the boot? Wjile there is plenty that is good about the reshuffle, I have to say I am bemused by that aspect of it.
Hoon was promoted. Minister for Europe was only a glorified Minister of State job, whereas Chief Whip is one of the most important Cabinet positions there are.
My understanding is that the post of Chief Whip is not a cabinet post as such, although the holder of that post does attend cabinet meetings. I appreciate that was the same situation when Hoon was Minister for Europe, but then he had something almost akin the departmental responsibilities, something he doesn't have now. In nay case it's still a come down considering he was once Defence Secretary
But that's not the point you were making Paul. He may well have been Defence Secretary once, but Chief Whip is a promotion in this context. It's a proper cabinet position, and always has been. He may not have a department, but he does have an extremely powerful office behind him. Anyone who has worked in Parliament for any extended period of time would know this.
I appreciate that it is a powerful job, but he has lost a department, and taken into the context that he is not a popular figure, that is seen as a loss in some respects
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