Cameron announces Cabinet reshuffle

The most senior Cabinet members kept their posts, including Chancellor George Osborne, Foreign Secretary William Hague, and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, who turned down the role of Justice Secretary to stay in his role.

The biggest change saw Jeremy Hunt promoted from Culture, Media, Olympics and Sport Secretary to Health Secretary, taking over the portfolio from Andrew Lansley, who became Leader of the Commons.

Mr Hunt’s move was seen as a reward for the successful delivery of the London 2012 Games.

Another person involved with the Games, London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) chief executive Paul Deighton, was brought into government. The former banker was given a role as Treasury minister for infrastructure and economic delivery.

Mr Cameron also moved Justine Greening to the role of International Development Secretary, and her previous role of Transport Secretary went to Patrick McLoughlin. The move has led to the London Mayor Boris Johnson accusing the Prime Minister of getting ready to abandon his promise not to build a third runway at Heathrow.

Liberal Democrat David Laws, who resigned two years ago during the expenses scandal, returned to government as education minister.

The Prime Minister promoted Chris Grayling to Justice Secretary, replacing veteran Ken Clarke, who was given the role of minister without portfolio.

The 72-year-old Tory, who first served as a minister in Margaret Thatcher’s administration 30 years ago, said he had agreed with Mr Cameron in 2010 that he would serve only two years as Justice Secretary and that he was “delighted” to “step back from the slog of running a large department” to take on a more advisory role.

Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson was switched to the environment brief. Maria Miller, previously minister for the disabled, was given the position of Culture Secretary and transport minister Theresa Villiers was appointed Northern Ireland Secretary.

Casualties of the changes included Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan and Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman, who leave the Government.

Grant Shapps replaced Baroness Warsi as Conservative Party chairman. Baroness Warsi takes on a ministerial role with responsibility for foreign affairs and faith groups. She will continue to attend Cabinet and has been given the position of “senior minister of state” at the Foreign Office and Department for Communities.

Lady Warsi’s co-chairman Michael Fallon moves to Vince Cable’s Business Department, where Number 10 said he would act as “a voice for business”.

Mr Cameron’s spokesman said the shake-up reflected a shift in focus as the Government moves into “the delivery phase” after two years of legislating for reform.

He said: “This is a reshuffle that seeks to look to the future and bring in new people into the team and also ensure we have the right ministers in place to deliver the Government’s programme.

“The first couple of years of this Government have involved lots of legislation and getting new policies through. We are now in the delivery phase and people have been brought in with that in mind."

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