Conservative MPs react positively to the reshuffle

By Matthew Barrett
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Since details of the reshuffle have emerged, Tory MPs, especially on the right of the party, have been reacting positively to David Cameron's appointments.

Lord Lawson was pleased with the reshuffle:

"I am on the whole very pleased with what has been done. There's another purpose why you need reshuffles. There is always a need to curb public spending and ministers become attached to their departmental budgets and therefore the Treasury needs to have new ministers who will look at their departmental budgets with fresh eyes and find ways of further savings and that is particularly necessary at the present time."

He had specific praise for Owen Paterson's promotion:

"I am very pleased to see in this reshuffle the promotion of Owen Paterson. Owen Paterson is little known to the British public because he has been Northern Ireland Secretary, so he is well known there, but really little known elsewhere. He is in fact one of the most able and promising young men or women around the Cabinet and therefore his promotion to Environment is extremely welcome….he is a man of reason and sense."

Andrew Bridgen said the reshuffle was more wide-ranging than many Tories had expected:

"I think the reaction from the backbenches is that this reshuffle is quite a lot more extensive than we actually predicted. So it is far more radical. But at the end of the day, these reshuffles are of great interest for those of us in the Westminster bubble and the media out there, but I think the people, your viewers, are really interested in policy, not necessarily personality, and it’s about reinvigorating the Government and pushing those policies forward to deliver economic growth that’s going to get the country out of recession."

Peter Bone spoke of the party's "delight":

"I mean, if we’ve taken into government some of the people who were EU rebels or Lords rebels, and brought the Party together, an actually had a more Conservative government than we had before then I think the party will be delighted, and we seem to be going in that direction"

Finally, Eleanor Laing was not convinced the reshuffle would change the mood of the parliamentary party - she was asked on BBC News whether the reshuffle would result in a "more cohesive" Conservative Party with less rebellions, and she answered: "I very much doubt it".

On Twitter, tributes were paid to outgoing colleagues

Full credit to @cherylgillanmp. As SoS she delivered on referendum, electrification of rail & established a Comm on Assembly fiscal autonomy

— Alun Cairns (@AlunCairns) September 4, 2012

Seems that Cheryl is leaving the Wales Office. Feel sad about this. Thought she was v good and always made the right call on the big issues.

— Glyn Davies (@GlynDaviesMP) September 4, 2012

Praise was given to incoming Secretaries of State:

Congratulations @davidjonesmp - well deserved.

— Daniel Byles (@danielbyles) September 4, 2012

@davidjonesmp congratulations I hope David

— Christopher Pincher (@ChrisPincher) September 4, 2012

@davidjonesmp congratulations David. Go UCL.

— Nadhim Zahawi (@nadhimzahawi) September 4, 2012

Andrew Mitchell will be great, reforming Tory Chief Whip, affable, thoughtful, bold moderniser, but with real steel in his backbone!

— Greg Barker (@GregBarkerMP) September 4, 2012

Good luck Theresa Villiers in N Ireland. A brilliant Aviation Minister.

— Zac Goldsmith (@ZacGoldsmith) September 4, 2012

I'm particularly pleased at Chris Grayling's promotion. Very interested to see what happens to Owen Patterson. #reshuffle

— Daniel Byles (@danielbyles) September 4, 2012

"@skynewsbreak: Employment Minister Chris Grayling appointed Justice Secretary" << Very good appointment

— Gavin Barwell MP (@GavinBarwellMP) September 4, 2012

I'm liking this re-shuffle. Grant to Chairman, Jeremy to Health, Chris to Justice, Maria to DCMS Theresa Villiers to NI. All good moves.

— Nadine Dorries MP (@NadineDorriesMP) September 4, 2012

However, some MPs were critical of the Government's decision to move Justine Greening:

Greening’s appointment 11 months ago indicated the PM’s position on Heathrow was solid.Yielding so easily suggests panic, not principle.

— Zac Goldsmith (@ZacGoldsmith) September 4, 2012

Real leadership requires clairty, not subterfuge. It's time for the Govt to be honest: has it changed its view on Heathrow; yes or no?

— Zac Goldsmith (@ZacGoldsmith) September 4, 2012

Just been on BBC news2talk H'Row after appt of new Trans Sec and said this doesn't alter facts - no room2make H'row competitive hubairport

— Angie Bray (@AngieBrayMP) September 4, 2012

One MP was notably downbeat:

With the Sir Humphrey's running many Whitehall departments, how much difference does a reshuffle make?

— Douglas Carswell MP (@DouglasCarswell) September 4, 2012

While another provided comedy:

The brightest & best of my colleagues may be gaining high office, but I’m the one with the corn beef & pickle sandwich #winning

— Andrew Percy (@andrewpercy) September 4, 2012