Matt T

George Osbourne new Shadow Chancellor

...nope, I have no idea who he is either. I think he's one of the "Notting Hill Set". Anyway it's good news for the Conservative Party as although everyone agrees he is a very nice man I don't think anyone thought Oliver Letwin was a good Shadow Chancellor, nor did he seem to want the job much. It also means Gordon Brown has now seen off five* Conservative Shadow Chancellors

In other changes Malcom Rifkind, the epitome of uselesness in the Major years, is back, as Work and Pensions shadow, though this is surely temporary before he gets a better position. It might also mean the Tories will adopt a more strident anti-Iraq war position. Liam Fox, remarkably, is made Shadow Foreign Secretary. David Cameron goes to education.

Will it be enough to stave off growing criticism of Michael Howard? Probably not. But that isn't how this reshuffle needs to be viewed. It is essentially Michael Howard's last chance to influence who replaces him. With that in mind clearly he favours Cameron or Osborne, but also it is surely significant that John Redwood remains in the joke position of 'Deregulation Secretary'.

* no, not four, you've forgotten Francis Maude. Oh my god Maude is back as Party Chairman. Maude is most famous for being Britain's signatory to the Maastricht Treaty.

posted by Matthew @ 5/10/2005 02:56:00 PM Comments: 0