JOIN USSayeeda Warsi, who became the first Asian woman to be given a Cabinet post when she was inducted in the David Cameron government after the 2010 election, was dropped in a mid-term reshuffle on Tuesday intended to revitalise the ruling coalition’s sagging image.
As details of the reshuffle emerged, the exercise seemed more driven by efforts to solve political problems than provide new impetus to solving Britain’s economic woes.
Leading lights of the Cameron government were not disturbed, but International Development secretary Andrew Mitchell was moved as the chief whip in order to ensure stronger control over Conservative back-bench MPs than has been the case so far.
Mitchell was replaced by Justine Greening, who was Transport secretary. A significant change was moving Culture, Media and Sport secretary Jeremy Hunt to Health.
Hunt was the focus of much attention recently due to his alleged pro-Rupert Murdoch leanings during the BSkyB takeover bid, and his evidence before the Leveson Inquiry.
Maria Miller is the new Culture secretary. Veteran Conservative Kenneth Clarke, 72, who held the Justice portfolio, has been moved to an economic role in the Cabinet, with the designation ‘minister without portfolio’.