WHO’S NEW IN THE COALITION GOVERNMENT?
VINCE CABLE
Former Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable will be gifted his dream job at the Treasury, working as number two to chancellor George Osborne. The popular big-beast of Nick Clegg’s party has long been recognised as vital to the Lib Dem machine.
He has been outspoken on bankers and sceptical about spending cuts. He has been MP for Twickenham since 1997.
ANDREW LANSLEY
Lansley is set to become minister for the Department of Health, keeping his shadow cabinet portfolio. Regarded as one of the Party’s left leaning modernisers, he represents David Cameron’s softer “One Nation” side and is known for his refusal to cut funding or jobs in the NHS. Lansley is MP for South Cambridgeshire and ran the Conservative 1992 general election campaign.
DANNY ALEXANDER
Nick Clegg’s chief of staff, who led the Lib Dem’s coalition negotiation team, has landed the role of Scottish secretary – almost a given as the Tories have only one MP north of the border. He began as a press officer for the party’s Scottish branch in 1993. He was elected to the seat of Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey in 2005.
LIAM FOX
Right-wing standard bearer Liam Fox who has continually spoken out against electoral reform, was last night confirmed as British defence secretary – Cameron’s sop to the right contingent. Ex-Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown, also a contender for the job, was last night slated to get some kind of national security role attached to Cameron’s National Security Council.