Tories reshuffle front bench pack
Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith has undertaken a mini-reshuffle of his front bench team, appointing a Homeland Security spokesperson for the first time.
Former Army officer Patrick Mercer has been made shadow Minister for Homeland Security – cutting across the Defence, Home Affairs and ODPM/Cabinet office shadow ministerial teams.
In addition, three front bench spokesmen who resigned over the Conservatives’ policy towards the war in Iraq are back in their posts – Humfrey Malins as a home affairs spokesmen, John Baron as a health spokesman and John Randall as a whip.
In one nod to the Government’s chaotic reshuffle last month, which Mr Duncan Smith had vowed not to mirror, Eleanor Laing has been appointed as shadow Minister for Children – opposing the beleaguered new Minister Margaret Hodge.
In addition, shadow Attorney General Bill Cash adds Constitutional Affairs to his brief – although Lord Kingsland remains shadow Lord Chancellor.
A number of other junior spokesperson appointments were made.
