The move of Alan Duncan away from the Shadow Cabinet-level job of Shadow Leader of the Commons to Prison’s Minister is right in the wake of his comments on camera about MP’s living on “rations”. However, that is not to say that I don’t have some sympathy with Duncan. He just said the wrong thing to the wrong person and had to be demoted for a while as a result.
However, the story this morning is that the very able Sir George Young, a former Cabinet Minister, is to take the job. This is a wise move by David Cameron. Firstly, Sir George is an able man with a huge bank of experience in government from which to draw. He has also been the chairman of the Commons committee that has been looking into expenses and knows the details of the issues better than almost anyone else, so he should be more than able to handle his new role, which will also help compensate for losing out on the Speakership to John Bercow.
What it really says to me, is that Cameron is shaping up his Cabinet for Government. He is addressing the potential criticism that his team lacks enough experience in office and placing someone who is respected by all sides in Parliament.
This little re-jig of positions is preparation for the next Conservative Government and is very welcome.
PS – I can’t see a story about this on ConHome or the BBC, yet, so remember – you read it here first! :0)
