The time has come, once again, for a reshuffle. Still bruised by the disastrous election, Theresa May appears in a strong enough position to change the shape of her cabinet. While the main cabinet roles remain the same, other ranks are to be adapted, ministers kicked out, moved to the side or potentially upgraded. As I type, the shuffling continues. Conservative MPs glued to their screens, desperately tapping, hoping they've missed a call from Number 10. Theresa May sorts her 315 playing cards, deciding who will topple to the ground. An amended cabinet will be finalised probably by PMQs on Wednesday. Who has gone? Who's joined up? And does it really matter?
Firstly, the sacked. Those who are no longer entitled to the ministerial car, the bright red box, the satisfying march up Downing Street to attend cabinet meetings. Farewell, Sir Patrick McLoughlin, former Tory Chairman. From the moment David Dimbleby read that fateful exit poll 7 months ago, he was doomed to depart. The knives were out, McLoughlin regularly at the bottom of ConservativeHome cabinet minister rankings. On an appearance of Any Questions?, he appeared uncomfortable when Jonathon Dimbleby asked him if he was enjoying his role. So it was probably the right time for him to depart. James Brokenshire has also departed the cabinet, resigning from the post of Northern Ireland secretary to have a lung operation. Obviously, everyone wishes him a speedy recovery. His successor will inherit a significant challenge, both getting Stormont up and running after a year out of action and ensuring the post-Brexit Northern Ireland/Ireland border is smooth. I am certainly not jealous of the task facing the replacement. As I watched the rolling news, eating my rice and salad (extremely tasty), I became aware that a number of new appointees were simply internal Conservative Party roles. A new chair, deputy chair and vice chairs were announced, loyal Tory backbenchers wishing to rise into ministerial roles and be rewarded for voting with the whip. Some of the new chairs appear to be more knowledgeable on how to properly use Twiiter than previous generations, which is vital if the Tories are to be anywhere near as effective as Labour on social media. Though the chair of the party is a cabinet role, I fail to see how this helps the country. Jeremy Hunt, the longest serving Health Secretary ever, survives yet another reshuffle. According to reports I read on twitter, he refused to become business secretary. Now, social care is under his watch, the responsibility registered in the name change. Hopefully this means the government will do something about the crisis of social care, which is filling up beds and stopping people from going home. Many will be disgusted that Mr Hunt remains in his role, but if people want the NHS to succeed, as we all do, they must be willing to work with the health secretary of the day. Should there be all this fuss about reshuffles? Political geeks like myself will keep track of who's in and out, the reasons for this, the implications on future political events. I'm sure most sane, normal people couldn't care less. There are far more important concerns in life, like ensuring Universial Credit payments are paid, children get to school on time and the milk is delivered. The parliamentary under-secretary for pens, pencils and paper is of no concern to anyone. The issue is over how government policies affect the lives of individuals. Of course, individuals within the government do deserved to be recognised. Those who work hard, offer a worthy contribution and make fine public servants deserve to be praised and rewarded. For example, I think Nick Clegg, former Liberal Democrat leader and former Deputy Prime Minister, was extremely deserving of a knighthood. He made a tricky decision to enter coalition and enacted some excellent policies e.g. pupil premium, gay marriage, the abolition of ID cards and a vote on Britain's electoral system (though I staunchly support FPTP, I believe it was right for people to have a say on the matter). Those who behave badly, whether that be sexual misconduct, poor expenses or general coverups deserve to be held to account and, should their constituents want it, forced to stand in a by-election. Every MP has wanted, at some point, to be Prime Minister. Seriously. Who would enter Westminster, where MPs are held in near-contempt, awful working hours, debates and key votes all the time, tough (rightly in my view) constituents wanting answers, endless campaigning and few rewards. If someone didn't want to be in charge of the country, enacting their agenda, why would they bother to try and be elected? That doesn't meant there should be career politicians (like I believe David Cameron was, who thought he should be Prime Minister because he was 'good at it'). When discussing reshuffles, I would prefer it if there was less of an emphasise on who has/hasn't got the role and more of an emphasise on what the reshuffle means in policy terms for ordinary people. There will be plenty more reshuffles to come. Political hacks will continue to wait eagerly, watching whether MPs (who they know well from 'off the record' conversations) rise or fall. Errors over 'WHO IS THE PARTY CHAIRMAN?' and what a certain minister said to persuade the Prime Minister to let them stay will trickle out of Downing Street and most likely make news for a few days. What matters are the issues affecting the country. Brexit, now and when we leave the EU, will swallow up the government's attention, drowning out serious issues in British health, education and welfare. It is vital the government and media don't let names of ministers overly dominate the headlines. The focus must be on both a sane, successful Brexit and investment, reform and modernisation of other public services. Anything else will cause the UK to fall behind other developed nations. Ordinary people would certainly feel the effects of that.
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