14/05/2010

History Airbrushed As Cabinet-Making Ends

The new PM, David Cameron is expected to complete his new government team today, as the coalition enters its third full day in power.

As behind-the scenes-moves 'wiped the slate clean' - with the government's news website 'archiving' items posted by the previous executive - further Westminster jobs are to be revealed.

As the Tories effectively air-brushed the Labour administration from view, more Liberal Democrat MPs are in line for jobs, in addition to their five cabinet posts and six middle-ranking ministerial roles.

Mr Cameron is also due to leave Downing Street today to meet First Minister Alex Salmond and other party leaders in Scotland.

Meanwhile, a new Lib Dem-Tory plan on dissolution of Parliament will mean that 55% of MPs must approve any such - a policy that former Transport Minister Labour's Lord Adonis has described as a "constitutional outrage".

However, the new Tory Foreign Secretary William Hague - who is also on his travels and heading to Washington for talks with US counterpart Hilary Clinton - said it was a "constitutional innovation".

Before heading north, Mr Cameron has already announced the latest swathe of appointments.

Yesterday he said that Nick Herbert is to be made Policing Minister, Damian Green Immigration Minister and Grant Shapps appointed Housing Minister.

Alan Duncan becomes an International Development Minister, while Hugo Swire goes to the Northern Ireland Office.

Among the Lib Dems, Sarah Teather was named as an Education Minister, Nick Harvey as Armed Forces Minister, Jeremy Browne as a Foreign Office Minister and Steve Webb as a Work and Pensions Minister.

There are expected to be 20 of the party's 57 MPs appointed at all levels across Whitehall departments.

See: NDS has archived all press notices from the previous administration.

(BMcC/GK)

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