Cabinet reshuffle: Lansley replaced by Hunt in health job


Cabinet reshuffle: Lansley replaced by Hunt in health job

Andrew Lansley Andrew Lansley saw through the controversial changes to the NHS in England

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Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has been demoted to the role of Leader of the Commons in an extensive reshuffle.
Mr Lansley, the architect of controversial reforms to the NHS in England, has been replaced by former Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
In other moves, Ken Clarke has been replaced as Justice Secretary by Chris Grayling.
Conservative Party co-chair Baroness Warsi and Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan are also being replaced.
And it is thought likely that Transport Secretary Justine Greening - a strong opponent of a new runway at Heathrow - will be moving jobs.
Transport minister Theresa Villiers is to be the new Northern Ireland Secretary but Education Secretary Michael Gove and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith will stay in their jobs.
Downing Street said the prime minister wants these "strong reformers" to continue their work.
Speaking outside No 10, Mr Hunt said he was "incredibly honoured" to take over health. "It is a huge task and the biggest privilege of my life," he told the BBC.
Mr Cameron met some of those he wants to move on Monday, including Mr Clarke and Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman.
Mr Clarke is being given a new role as minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office, where he will act as a government "wise head" offering advice to Mr Cameron on issues including economic strategy.
He has been replaced by employment minister Chris Grayling, who was shadow home secretary before the 2010 election and is regarded as being to the right to Mr Clarke on
'Signing off' Tuesday's cabinet meeting has been cancelled to allow the prime minister to deal with the reshuffle - the first major restructuring since the Conservative-Liberal Democrat government came to power in 2010.
On Monday night, it was announced Andrew Mitchell would replace Patrick McLoughlin as government chief whip, a job whose main role is to maintain party discipline and get Conservative MPs to vote in favour of coalition legislation.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS SO FAR

  • Health Secretary Andrew Lansley becomes Leader of the House of Commons
  • He is replaced by former Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt
  • Ken Clarke replaced as Justice Secretary by Chris Grayling
  • Mr Clarke stays in cabinet as Minister without Portfolio
  • Transport Minister Theresa Villiers named Northern Ireland Secretary
  • International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell becomes chief whip
  • Baroness Warsi to be replaced as co-chair of the Conservative Party
  • Cheryl Gillan leaves job as Welsh Secretary
  • Education Secretary Michael Gove and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith stay in their posts
  • Edward Garnier sacked as Solicitor General
Last month Baroness Warsi appealed to Mr Cameron to allow her to keep her post in any reshuffle but she hinted heavily at her departure when she wrote on her official Tory chairman Twitter account: "It's been a privilege and an honour to serve my party as co-chairman, signing off @ToryChairman."
In other moves already confirmed, ex-International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell is the new chief whip.
The prime minister is also expected to bring back Liberal Democrat David Laws as part of his shake-up.
Former cabinet minister Mr Laws resigned two years ago as chief secretary to the Treasury after admitting he claimed expenses to pay his partner's rent.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson says the changes will be widespread, both in the cabinet and among more junior ministers.
He said Mr Clarke's move was one of a series which would reshape the government's middle and junior ranks and could - though this has not been confirmed - see new faces in departments such as health, transport, work and pensions and the position of party chairman.
'Meaning business' Ken Clarke today denied that being moved from Justice Secretary to minister without portfolio was a humiliation, telling reporters: "Being offered a job in the Cabinet at my age - don't be daft."
The prime minister's aides say the appointments would prove the government meant business.
Any cabinet changes are thought unlikely to affect Chancellor George Osborne, Home Secretary Theresa May or Foreign Secretary William Hague.
But Mr Osborne was reminded of the scale of the political challenge the government faces when he was booed as he presented medals at the Olympic Stadium on Monday night.
The reshuffle comes after several Conservative MPs accused the coalition of not doing enough to promote economic growth.
Housing minister Grant Shapps, employment minister Chris Grayling, minister for disabled people Maria Miller, transport minister Theresa Villiers and Tory deputy chairman Michael Fallon are among the Conservatives tipped for promotion.
There has been speculation Ms Gillan could be replaced by Wales Office minister David Jones or Stephen Crabb, currently a whip.
Edward Garnier, who has been sacked as Solicitor General, told the BBC that he "had the impression that this is going to be quite a big shake-up".

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