Howard reshuffles Shadow Cabinet
The Conservative Party leader has reshuffled his Shadow Cabinet.
Theresa May moves from Shadow Environment and Transport Secretary to a new position of Shadow Secretary for the Family.
She will also have additional campaigning responsibilities in local government to “highlight the successes of Conservatives”.
Her former position is taken by Tim Yeo who relinquishes his current Secretary of State for Public Services.
Mr Yeo’s old role is being split into two jobs, reflecting the Conservatives say “the crucial importance of these policy areas in the run-up to the next General Election.”
As a result, Andrew Lansley, the Shadow Secretary of State for Health, and Tim Collins, Shadow Secretary of State for Education, have been promoted to the Shadow Cabinet.
The combining of the health and education portfolios into one position had been strongly criticised by Labour, who claimed it showed the Conservatives placed a low priority on public services.
David Willetts remains in the Shadow Cabinet with responsibility for Work and Pensions, but David Cameron takes his role as Head of Policy Co-ordination.
Mr Cameron was formerly the Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party. He has been much tipped for advancement as he has previously been special advisor to Mr Howard when the latter was Home Secretary and head of research for John Major’s Prime Minster’s Question Time team.
The reshuffle now brings the number of people in the Shadow Cabinet to 14.
None of the other responsibilities or positions are affected by the reshuffle.
