On the 2018 cabinet reshuffle

The latest reshuffle of Theresa May's Cabinet, whilst not drastic, has been rather interesting, to say the least.

Being an entirely Conservative Cabinet, I was not expecting much change, except for the worse. The resignations of James Brokenshire and Sir Patrick McLoughlin from the Cabinet have attracted the most attention but they are not the most significant changes by far. The fact that Justine Greening has been replaced by Damian Hinds (MP for East Hampshire since 2010) as Education Secretary makes no noticeable difference.

The most significant and worst change is the re-appointment of Esther McVey to Work & Pensions Secretary; David Gauke meanwhile becomes Justice Secretary and is the first solicitor to hold this role (mostly held by barristers historically). The last time Esther was Work & Pension Secretary (when she was MP for Wirral West, rather than the Tatton constituency she currently represents), she became infamous for her total disregard for the lives and needs of disabled people when she implemented harsh benefits cuts (especially to ESA, vital for those unable to work due to disability and/or illness), and has been a primary instigator and defender of the worst of the Conservatives' welfare reform policies, including food banks popping up nationally and harsh and unjustifiable benefit sanctions often on flimsy excuses, even when faced with evidence of the moral and practical failures of such policies.

The more notorious ministers, such as Jeremy Hunt and Michael Gove, meanwhile stay where they are, although coincidentally the resignation of controversial paleoconservative Toby Young from the new universities regulator at the same time this reshuffle happened is welcome news nevertheless.

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