Cameron statement on ministerial resignations

The Prime Minister has accepted the resignations of the following Ministers:

• The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP (Minister without Portfolio)
• The Rt Hon David Willetts MP (Minister of State, BIS)
• The Rt Hon Alan Duncan MP (Minister of State, DFID)
• The Rt Hon Hugh Robertson MP (Minister of State, FCO)
• The Rt Hon Sir George Young Bt MP, (Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury)
• The Rt Hon Andrew Robathan MP (Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office)
• The Rt Hon Gregory Barker MP (Minister of State, DECC)

On these resignations, the Prime Minister wrote to the Ministers saying:

i) To the Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP, Prime Minister David Cameron wrote: “Since you first entered Parliament in 1970, and over forty years since your first Front Bench role as a PPS, your passion for getting things done and the energy you have brought to your Cabinet posts has not diminished one bit. Indeed, it is now a quarter of a century since your first Cabinet position. To have that level of experience at my own Cabinet table has been incredibly helpful – both to me as Prime Minister and to the whole Cabinet. You have never been timid to raise issues of importance or to stand up for causes that matter to you, but you have also brought a keen sense of humour to the Cabinet table – and you will be hugely missed.”

ii) To the Rt Hon Sir George Young Bt MP, Prime Minister David Cameron wrote: “You stepped into the breach as Chief Whip at a very sensitive time and have given exemplary service in this role, as I knew you would. I remain incredibly grateful to you for agreeing to return to Government and for the further contribution you have made. You have been the most loyal and dependable of colleagues, a calm and knowledgeable presence at the heart of our Government. I will always appreciate your sage and reliable advice.”

iii) To the Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Prime Minister David Cameron wrote: “I was delighted when you agreed to join my Shadow Team in 2005 and the Government in 2010. I have been proud to have “two brains” at the heart of my team, both in Opposition and in Government and you, in turn, can take enormous pride in the contribution you have made. Your work championing the Eight Great Technologies, the space industry, and long-term capital has truly solidified the UK as the best place in the world to do science and innovation. You have also been integral to our Higher Education reforms, particularly by leading our removal of the student numbers’ cap, which will have a transformative effect on the sector.”

iv) To the Rt Hon Alan Duncan MP Prime Minister David Cameron wrote: “You have continued your service on the Conservative Front Bench with a number of significant portfolios, making an outstanding contribution, both in Opposition and – over the past four years – in Government at the Department for International Development. This has been a perfect fit and your enthusiasm and commitment to the role has shone through. In particular, I have greatly admired the passion and expertise you have brought to our work in the Middle East, which has done much to enhance the UK’s reputation in the region. It is a legacy to be proud of.”

v) To the Rt Hon Hugh Robertson MP, Prime Minister David Cameron wrote: “You have served our Front Bench continuously for over a decade, and made an outstanding contribution, both in Opposition and – over the past four years – in Government. No more so than your pivotal role helping to organise the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. You were able to participate in the preparations of the greatest sporting event in the world from bid to completion, and the start of the legacy beyond. But that in itself does not do justice to the role you played, helping ensure that London 2012 was the most spectacular and well-organised Olympics in history. More recently, I would like to recognise the calm and sensitive way in which you have dealt with the many complex and dangerous challenges we have faced in the Middle East.”

vi) To the Rt Hon Andrew Robathan MP, Prime Minister David Cameron wrote: “I have been proud to have you on my Front Bench, loyally serving as Deputy Chief Whip in Opposition and, in Government, as a Minister in two challenging portfolios where you have been able to bring your steady hand and experience of military service to bear. You can be enormously proud of your achievements in Government and your contribution to our country.”

vii) To the Rt Hon Gregory Barker MP, Prime Minister David Cameron wrote: “You have served continuously on the Conservative Front Bench for over a decade and I hope you can be enormously proud of all you have achieved over the years covering the related briefs of Environment and, more recently, Climate Change. In particular, you have led successful investment into our energy infrastructure, making the UK a world-leader in renewable technology. You have established the Green Investment Bank, and mobilised over £3 billion investment into our renewables sector last year alone.”

Details of new appointments will be made tomorrow.

Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, Michael Dugher, responding to the Government reshuffle, said: “This speaks volumes about David Cameron’s leadership. Four years of failure to promote women and now we have the massacre of the moderates. Britain’s foreign policy is now set to be led by a man who has talked about taking us out of the EU. The Tories are now retreating out of Europe with all the threat that poses to jobs and business in Britain. This reshuffle shows how weak David Cameron is, running scared of his own right wing. That’s why he cannot focus on the big challenges facing families up and down the country.”

Cameron/Clegg set to reshuffle the Ministerial team

Many will want a place at the table

Prime Minister David Cameron will, maybe as early as tonight, attempt to reclaim the political initiative as MPs return to Westminster after a bruising summer marked by an outbreak of internal dissent over his leadership. The Prime Minister will seek to reassert his authority over his restive Conservative Party with his first Cabinet reshuffle since the coalition took office in 2010.

At the same time ministers are preparing a series of high-profile announcements intended to inject new life into the moribund economy and pull the country out of recession. Mr Cameron used an article for a Sunday newspaper to declare his determination to end the "paralysis" and "cut through the dither" that was holding the country back. His comments were seen as a riposte to Tories such as London Mayor Boris Johnson, who accused him of "pussyfooting around", and Tim Yeo, who questioned whether he was "man or mouse". 

However, he faces an immediate challenge from the Tory right, with David Davis - who fought him for the party leadership in 2005 - setting out his alternative strategy for growth. Before proceedings in the Commons have even started, Mr Davis will use a lunchtime speech to the Centre for Policy Studies think-tank to call for a radical programme of cuts to taxes, regulation and public spending to kick-start the economy.

Meanwhile, Mr Cameron's party management skills will be put to the test as he seeks to re-boot his Government with a reshuffle of his top team. Many of the most senior figures are expected to remain in their present posts - including Chancellor George Osborne, Foreign Secretary William Hague, Home Secretary Theresa May, Education Secretary Michael Gove, Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith and Defence Secretary Philip Hammond - leaving limited room for manoeuvre. 

Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke is also rumoured to be one of those moved on, as there will be no big jobs available he's likely to be out of the cabinet unless he is made Conservative party chairman. Talking of the Conservative Party chairman much attention has focused on the key role of Baroness Warsi has publicly appealed to Mr Cameron to allow her to carry on in the post, but some Tory MPs want to see her replaced with a big hitter who can galvanise support for the party. 

As it is rumoured the Department for International Development will be abolished and the brief return to the Foreign Office. If that is the case they Baroness Warsi could easily be moved to the Foreign Office as Minister of State for International Development. It is thought that the International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell will be moved to number 12 Downing Street to become the Government Chief Whip.

Also thought that the three regional offices will be merged into one as most of the roles of those departments have been devolved to the regional governments. Cheryl Gillan is likely to be sacked as Welsh Secretary, Owen Paterson the Northern Ireland Secretary may well stay with the new merged department as a Minister of State. Scottish Secretary Michael Moore is a Lib Dem and therefore Mr Clegg's problem. Although the Secretary of State for the regions, if it happens is likely to be a Liberal Democrat.

DEFRA Secretary Caroline Spelman hasn't performed well in her role and her junior ministers have been shown as incompetent to put it nicely so there is likely to be a completely new team at DEFRA. Eric Pickles like Mrs Spelman may also be dreading the phone ringing tomorrow as I suspect he will be sacked as DCLG Secretary. Jeremy Hunt the embattled Culture Secretary is also likely to be out of the cabinet.

Employment minister Chris Grayling and housing minister Grant Shapps have been touted as possible alternatives from outside the Cabinet. Mr Cameron may carry out a more far-reaching shuffle when he comes to the middle and lower ministerial ranks, taking the opportunity to get rid of under-performers and to blood new talent from the 2010 intake of new MPs.

Nick Clegg will also be reshuffling his team as well. David Laws is likely to return to Cabinet. Jo Swinson currently PPS to the Deputy Prime Minister is likely to get promoted as well. Lynne Featherstone hasn't performed well at the Home Office and may well be sent to the backbenches. Ed Davey who only replaced Chris Huhne at Energy & Climate Change recently is likely to be safe. Danny Alexander may well be demoted if not simply sacked to free up a Treasury role for Vince Cable. That would allow David Laws to go to Business Secretary. 

However like with the Tories it is purely speculation as only two men know what is actually planned and they are David Cameron and Nick Clegg.