Today's Times attempts to confirm what has been long expected... the return of William Hague to frontline Tory politics. The Times predicts that Mr Hague (pictured with his 2001 shadow cabinet) may become Shadow Chancellor. If that happens the obvious move for the current occupant of that position - George Osborne - is to the Chairmanship of the Party. Every party leader needs a close lieutenant in such a key position and Mr Osborne, Mr Cameron's leadership campaign manager, is the obvious candidate... although Francis Maude's interest in a more open Conservative Party might keep him at CCHQ. The other very key position where loyalty to the leader is vital is Shadow Chief Whip. Patrick McLoughlin (the current deputy) may fill that position although Oliver Heald and Peter Luff are other candidates.
The Times does not expect Ken Clarke to return.
Who would you put - or expect to be - in the top jobs?
I'm assuming that David Cameron will win the leadership election but it's still not too late to vote in our run-off prediction competition....
If you would like to play ConservativeHome's Fantasy Shadow Cabinet you need to fill the current positions...
- Shadow Chancellor:
- Shadow Home Secretary:
- Shadow Foreign Secretary:
- Chairman:
- Chief Whip:
- Theresa May's role:
- Iain Duncan Smith's role:
- Ken Clarke's role:
- David Davis' role:
- Oliver Letwin's role:
- Deputy Leader:
- Head of Policy Development:
- Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where):
- Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet:
- Most surprising appointment (state who and to where):
The rules are simple...
- The Editor's decision is final - so I decide which is the biggest sacking or promotion, for example...
- Only one name/position for each of the questions...
- If you put David Davis as your Shadow Home Secretary you must then put Shadow Home Secretary next to DD's role...
There will be 1 point for every correct answer... You can also get one point for correctly saying "No role" for IDS or "There won't be one" for Deputy Leader, for example...
Do not use this thread to open a discussion - In order to avoid clutter I'll delete entries that aren't fantasy shadow cabinet lists. You have been warned!
PS Have you taken part in ConservativeHome's exclusive new survey of Tory opinion?
Shadow Chancellor: George Osborne
Shadow Home Secretary: David Davis
Shadow Foreign Secretary: William Hague
Chairman: Liam Fox
Chief Whip: Patrick McLoughlin
Theresa May's role: Health
Iain Duncan Smith's role: Defence
Ken Clarke's role: none in the Shadow Cabinet
David Davis' role: Deputy Leader
Oliver Letwin's role: Head of Policy Development
Deputy Leader: David Davis
Head of Policy Development: Oliver Letwin
Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): William Hague
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: John Redwood
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where): David Davis as Shadow Home Secretary and Deputy Leader
Posted by: i reckon | 05 December 2005 at 22:52
Shadow Chancellor: Liam Fox
Shadow Home Secretary: David Davis
Shadow Foreign Secretary: David Cameron
Chairman: Andrew Lansley
Chief Whip: Chris Grayling
Theresa May's role: Health
Iain Duncan Smith's role: Defence
Ken Clarke's role: none in the Shadow Cabinet
David Davis' role: Shadow Home
Oliver Letwin's role: Environment
Deputy Leader: None
Head of Policy Development: David Willetts
Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): William Hague to Leader of the Opposition
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: John Redwood
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where): David Cameron to Shadow Foreign Secretary (makes more sense than the other way around)
Posted by: who deserves what | 06 December 2005 at 14:47
Shadow Chanceller: George Osborne
Shadow Home Secretary: Oliver Letwin
Shadow Foreign Secretary: William Hague
Chairman: Malcolm Rifkind
Chief Whip: Patrick McLoughlin
Teresa May's role: Education
Iain Duncan Smith's role: None
Ken Clarke's role: None
David Davis's role: Defence
Oliver Letwin's role: Home
Deputy leader: None
Head of Policy Development: David Willetts
Biggest promotion: Ed Vaisey to Work and Pensions
Biggest sacking: Andrew Lansley
Most surprising appointment: Teresa Villiers to Environment
Posted by: Jon Perry | 07 December 2005 at 07:14
1. Shadow Chancellor: George Osborne
2. Shadow Home Secretary: David Davis
3. Shadow Foreign Secretary: William Hague
4. Chairman: Francis Maude
5. Chief Whip: Patrick McLoughlin
6. Theresa May's role: Defra
7. Iain Duncan Smith's role: none
8. Ken Clarke's role: none
9. David Davis' role: Shadow Home Secretary
10. Oliver Letwin's role: Head of Policy Development
11. Deputy Leader: George Osborne
12. Head of Policy Development: Oliver Letwin
13. Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): William Hague to Shadow Foreign Secretary
14. Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: Michael Ancram as Deputy Leader (but may stay in Shadow Cabinet).
15. Most surprising appointment (state who and to where): Bernard Jenkin to Shadow Leader of the House
Posted by: Kenneth Irvine | 07 December 2005 at 10:52
1. Shadow Chancellor: George Osborne
2. Shadow Home Secretary: David Davis
3. Shadow Foreign Secretary: William Hague
4. Chairman: Francis Maude
5. Chief Whip: Patrick McLoughlin
6. Theresa May's role: DEFRA
7. Iain Duncan Smith's role: not in shadow cabinet but adviser as former Leader.
8. Ken Clarke's role: not in shadow cabinet but possible adviser
9. David Davis' role: Shadow Home Secretary
10. Oliver Letwin's role: Head of Policy Development
11. Deputy Leader: Dr Liam Fox
12. Head of Policy Development: Oliver Letwin
13. Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): William Hague to Shadow Foreign Secretary
14. Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: Michael Ancram as Deputy Leader (but may stay in Shadow Cabinet).
15. Most surprising appointment (state who and to where): Bernard Jenkin to Shadow Leader of the House.
Posted by: Kenneth Irvine | 07 December 2005 at 10:59