DeHavilland New Cabinet Appointments
Best known as the Coalition’s controversial Education Secretary, former journalist Michael Gove’s appointment as Justice Secretary under the new Cameron ministry will build upon his past interest in encouraging youth citizenship efforts, but could attract controversy as he has previouslyadvocated capital punishment.
Having ceded his Education role to Nicky Morgan after implementing a series of radical policies aimed at deregulating schools, Mr Gove spent his final Coalition year as Chief Whip, but was also appointed to serve Justice Secretary as a broadcast spokesperson for the Government. He will preside over the Conservatives’ bid to replace the Michael Gove Human Rights Act with a “British Bill of Rights”, as outlined in the party’s General Election manifesto.
Greg Clark has a track record of departmental experience to bring to bear in his new role as Communities Secretary, and looks set to draw upon his past responsibility for constitutional issues and knowledge of the Cabinet Office.
He has highlighted the efforts of the Coalition to deliver “bespoke”devolution for cities, and has also worked on supporting and involving business in this process via the Growth Deals initiative.
Dr Clark also has ministerial experience working on the Universities and Science brief at the Department for Communities Secretary Business, Innovation and Skills. Greg Clark
Self-described “businessman and private investor” Sajid Javid has devoted himself to ensuring low taxes and light and flexible regulation, and will bring to bear his banking career in his new role as Business Secretary.
Mr Javid has enjoyed a rapid rise through the ministerial ranks after entering Parliament for Bromsgrove in 2010, focusing on the Treasury.
He has called small businesses the backbone of the economy, and has emphasised the need to remain Business Secretary internationally competitive. He has already announced his intention to restrict the right to take industrial Sajid Javid action, as pledged in the party’s General Election manifesto.
Former Climate Change Minister Amber Rudd rises to become Secretary of State after less than a year at the department under the Coalition.
Like Mr Javid, Ms Rudd is a former PPS to Chancellor George Osborne.
Frequently quick to point to the green credentials of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as an example of Conservative leadership on the environment, Ms Rudd is also an enthusiastic advocate of solar energy. Energy Secretary However, she has also strongly emphasised the need to pursue decarbonisation “at an affordable price”. Amber Rudd Ten years as Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee will make John Whittingdale supremely confident in his new brief. Mr Whittingdale is a veteran Conservative MP who distinguished himself early on in his tenure as a PPS by taking a stand on a matter of principle relating tomedia ownership.
He was involved in scrutiny of the last major piece of communications legislation, the Communications Bill, and more recently has shown a particular interest in intellectual property.
Culture Secretary One of the major issues Mr Whittingdale will confront in his new role is theBBC Charter review process, and John Whittingdale media reports have already pounced on his past statements eulogising the Licence Fee.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell is set to continue at Cabinet level his Coalition-era ministerial responsibilities for Scottish affairs, with arguably an even greater sense of urgency given the dramatic Scottish election result.
One of the last remaining non-SNP MPs in Scotland, and the Conservatives’ only Commons representative in the country, he takes over from his Liberal Democrat predecessor and fellow election survivor Alistair Carmichael.
As a former MSP Mr Mundell also boasts an intimate knowledge of the Scottish Parliament. His political Scottish Secretary interests include business and rural affairs, and he has also shown a passion for transport policy. David Mundell
Joining these new appointees and their colleagues continuing in Cabinet roles will be additional attendees with other ministerial roles below Secretary of State level. They include newcomers Chief Whip Mark Harper, Employment Minister Priti Patel, Chief Treasury Secretary Greg Hands, Minister without Portfolio Robert Halfon and Business and Enterprise Minister Anna Soubry.
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