Jonathan Isaby has written about how odd it is that Downing Street cannot yet supply a list of Ministerial appointments. It's extraordinary that filling the posts is taking so long.
Yesterday we heard that Chloe Smith, Brooks Newmark, Philip Dunne, Michael Fabricant and Angela Watkinson had been appointed junior whips. And then in the evening came the news that James Brokenshire, who last week had been told he would not be in the government, is to be a junior Home Office Minister after all. And quite right too.
There are still quite a few Lords appointments to be made, along with the announcement of several peerages across the parties.
Obviously when one is dealing with two parties these things are bound to take longer, but I hope the full list can be released before too long.
If they don't give Rory Stewart a job - maybe not right away but very soon - then something is wrong. Unless he's been offered a job and has turned it down. That would be quite like him - Aircraftsman Shaw.
ReplyDeleteOne reason for the lamentable pace may be that two parties are involved in making the appointments - hence double the selection/process time. One wonders if this will apply throughout the Parliament. If so we're in for a very slow change.
ReplyDeleteWhy not ask Cleggy?
ReplyDeleteYes. It should be the FCO or MOD for Rory Stewart, with responsibility for Afghanistan....
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I had the idea - which might, admittedly, be completely wrong - that Rory Stewart had very good links with William Hague. So perhaps he's already helping to shape policy, however informally, while he finds his feet as a new MP?
ReplyDeleteThe complete (I think) list is there now at http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2010/05/her-majestys-government-49840. Be sure you see today's date.
ReplyDeleteAlso curious is that Vince Cable's title is SoS for Business, Innovation and Skills and President of the Board of Trade. I thought that title had been abandoned.
ReplyDeleteChloe Smith? Oh dear.
ReplyDeleteI don't think any newly elected MPs have been given jobs straight away have they?
ReplyDeleteRory Stewart would certainly be one you'd expect to see involved in FCO or MOD. And of course Bob Stewart is another one.