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 Cabinet:
1. Leader: David Cameron
2. Home & Deputy Leader: Malcolm Rifkind
3. Chancellor: Ken Clarke
4. Home: William Hague
5. Health: Caroline Spelman
6. Education: George Osborne
7. Defence: David Davis
8. Trade & Industry: David Willetts
9. Transport: Alan Duncan
10. Work & Pensions: Liam Fox
11. Environment: Boris Johnson
12. Leader of the House: Chris Grayling
13. Family, Culture, Media & Sport: Theresa May
14. Iain Duncan Smiths role: None
15. Head of Policy Development: David Willets
16. Biggest promotion awarded to: Ken to Chancellor
17. Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: Ancram
18. Most surprising appointment: Caroline to Health
Posted by: Oberon Houston | 28 November 2005 at 10:04
Shadow Chancellor: Hague - beating up GB every Tuesday for the next two years!
Shadow Home Secretary: Fox
Shadow Foreign Secretary: Rifkind - gravitas!
Chairman: - Duncan - what fun we'll have!
Chief Whip: McLoughlin
Theresa May's role: Shadow DCMS
Iain Duncan Smith's role: Shadow Education
Ken Clarke's role: retirement?
David Davis' role: Leader
Oliver Letwin's role: Environment
Deputy Leader: Cameron
Head of Policy Development: Greg Clark/Nick Herbert
Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): Villiers - Shadow Chief Secretary to Treasury
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: Lansley
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where: Spelman - health
Posted by: John Moss | 28 November 2005 at 10:48
Chancellor Osborne
Home Sec Hague
Foreign Sec Fox
Chairman Maude
Whip McLoughlin
Teresa May DCMS
IDS Urban renewal/social justice
Ken Clarke No role
David Davis Defense/dep leader
Oli Letwin Defra
Dep Leader Davis
Policy Development Willetts
Promotion Hague
Sacking Redwood
Surprise Spellman to Education
Posted by: wasp | 28 November 2005 at 11:14
Shadow Chancellor: Hague
Shadow Home Secretary: Davis
Shadow Foreign Secretary: Fox
Chairman: Osborne
Chief Whip: Maude
Theresa May's role: Education
Iain Duncan Smith's role: Vice Chairman (social justice)
Ken Clarke's role: Deputy Leader
David Davis' role: Home
Oliver Letwin's role: Hd of Policy Development
Deputy Leader: Clarke
Head of Policy Development: Letwin
Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): Spelman to Health
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: Willetts
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where: Clarke as Deputy Leader
Posted by: Haymarket | 28 November 2005 at 11:43
Shadow Chancellor: George Osborne
Shadow Home Secretary: Dominic Grieve
Shadow Foreign Secretary: Malcolm Rifkind
Chairman: Francis Maude
Chief Whip: Patrick McLoughlin
Theresa May's role: co-chairman....?
Iain Duncan Smith's role: same as now
Ken Clarke's role: Shadow Attorney General
David Davis' role: Deputy Leader
Oliver Letwin's role: Environment (good at it)
Deputy Leader: Davis
Head of Policy Development: Michael Gove
Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): Gove (from backbench newcomer to Policy Development)
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: Willetts
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where): Grieve&Clarke to home affairs and attorney general: might not happen but I just think they'd be great at kicking the government's destruction of the constitution and civil liberties.
Hague at defence and Fox at health would both humiliate their opposite numbers, while promotions for Afriyie, Greening, Vaizey and Herbert to shadow junior ministerial positions would be welcome...
Posted by: Martin Smith | 28 November 2005 at 14:33
Shadow Chancellor: Hague
Shadow Home Secretary: Davis
Shadow Foreign Secretary: Rifkind
Chairman: Fox
Chief Whip: Grayling
Theresa May's role: Transport
Iain Duncan Smith's role: Vice Chairman (social justice)
Ken Clarke's role: British American Tobacco & MP for Rushcliffe
David Davis' role: Deputy Leader & Home
Oliver Letwin's role: Environment
Deputy Leader: Davis
Head of Policy Development: Willetts
Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): Hague to Shadow Chancellor
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: Duncan for welcoming Lord Archer back to the party.
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where: Davis as deputy leader.
Posted by: a very solid team | 28 November 2005 at 19:16
Shadow Chancellor: Hague
Shadow Home Secretary: Spelman
Shadow Foreign Secretary: Fox
Defence: Davis
Leader of Commons: Rifkind
International Development : Gove
Chairman: Osborne
Head of Policy Development: Letwin
Education: Willets
Health: Grayling
Environment: Maude
Transport: Lansley
Work & Pensions: Frank Fields
Chief Whip: McLoughlin
Theresa May's role: Culture & Media
Iain Duncan Smith's role: Social Justice
Ken Clarke's role: Backbenches
David Davis' role: Defence
Oliver Letwin's role: Policy Development
Deputy Leader: Fox
Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): Spelman to Shadow Home Affairs/ Gove to International Development
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: Duncan
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where): Frank Field at Work & Pensions/
Spelman to Shadow Home Affairs
Posted by: Merry | 29 November 2005 at 12:14
Shadow Chancellor: William Hague
Shadow Home Secretary: Ken Clarke
Shadow Foreign Secretary: Malcolm Rifkind
Chairman: Francis Maude
Chief Whip: Crispin Blunt
Theresa May's role: Local Government
Iain Duncan Smith's role: No role
Ken Clarke's role: Shadow Home Secretary
David Davis' role: Trade and Industry
Oliver Letwin's role: DEFRA
Deputy Leader: John Ancram
Head of Policy Development: Gove and Osborne
Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): Hague to Chancellor
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: Andrew Mitchell
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where):John Bercow to International Development
Posted by: PD James | 29 November 2005 at 13:12
Shadow Chancellor: George Osborne
Shadow Home Sec: Liam Fox
Shadow Foreign Sec: William Hague
Chairman: Francis Maude
Chief Whip: Patrick McCloughlin
Theresa May's Role: Health Sec.
Ian Duncan Smith's Role: None
Ken Clarke's Role: None
David Davis' Role: None
Oliver Letwin's Role: Work and Pensions
Deputy Leader: Sir Malcolm Rifkind
Head of Policy: David Willetts
Biggest Promotion:
Hague - Backbencher to Shadow Foreign Sec.
Biggest Sacking:
David Davis - Sacked from Home Affairs and declining any other position.
Most Surprising:
Anne Widdecome - Local Government
Posted by: Peter Littleton | 29 November 2005 at 13:19
Deputy Leader: George Osborne
Chancellor: William Hague
Home Secretary: David Davis
Foreign Secretary: Francis Maude
Health: Liam Fox
Transport: Julie Kirkbride
Party Chairman: Sir Malcolm Rifkind
Local Government: Ed Vaizey
Work and Pensions: David Willetts
Culture, Media and Sport: Boris Johnson
Attorney General: Edward Leigh
Education: Theresa May
Environment: Oliver Letwin
Northern Ireland: Chris Grayling
Chief Secretary to the Treasury: Alan Duncan
Constitutional Affairs: Oliver Heald
Chief Whip: Patrick McLaughlin
Trade and Industry: Dominic Grieve
Leader of the House: Caroline Spelman
Deregulation: John Redwood
Defence: Michael Ancram
Family: Justine Greening
Policy Development: Michael Gove
International Development: John Bercow
Biggest Promotion: Hague/Ed Vaizey
Biggest Sacking(s): Mitchell/Lidington
Most Surprising: Francis Maude to Shadow Foreign Secretary
Posted by: ALJames | 29 November 2005 at 14:48
Shadow Chancellor, Ken Clerke
Shadow Foreign Sec, Liam Fox
Shadow Home Sec, John Redwood
Shadow Health,Justine Greening
Shadow Defence, Alan Duncan
Shadow Local Govt, Theresa may
Shadow Leader of the House, Oliver Letwin
Northern Ireland etc, Francis Maude
Party Chairman, William Hague
Chief Whip, George Osborne
Shadow Education, Caroline Spelman
Shadow Transport, Peter Lilley
Shadow Works& Pension, David Willetts
Shadow Leader of the Lords, Lord Strathclyde
Shadow DTI, Andrew Lansley
Biggest Sacking, Mitchell
Biggest Promotion, Justine Greening
Posted by: Nelson, Norfolk | 29 November 2005 at 15:40
Shadow Chancellor: Liam Fox
Shadow Home Secretary: David Willetts
Shadow Foreign Secretary: William Hague Chairman: Andreew Lansley
Chief Whip: Chris Grayling
Theresa May's role: Transport
Iain Duncan Smith's role: Party Vice Chairman
Ken Clarke's role: Loyal MP and media interviewee
David Davis' role: Deputy Leader
Oliver Letwin's role: Environment
Deputy Leader: David Davis
Head of Policy Development: Michael Gove
Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): Hague to Shadow Foreign Secretary
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: John Redwood
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where): William Hague to Shadow Foreign Secretary (should be the Shadow Chancellor)
Posted by: the best way forward | 29 November 2005 at 16:05
Shadow Chancellor: George Osborne
Shadow Home Secretary: Liam Fox
Shadow Foreign Secretary: William Hague
Chairman: Francis Maude
Chief Whip: Oliver Heald
Theresa May's role: Shadow Leader of Commons
Iain Duncan Smith's role: Spokesman for Communities, Inner Cities and Social Justice
Ken Clarke's role: None. Will be a backbencher, but available for occasional frontbench performances
David Davis' role: Shadow Defence and deputy leader
Oliver Letwin's role: Shadow Constitutional Affairs
Deputy Leader: David Davis (as above)
Head of Policy Development: Michael Gove and Nick Herbert
Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): Caroline Spelman - from Local Government to Education
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: John Redwood (Ancram has already said he'll go and I expect Maclean to resign, so would not count that as a sacking)
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where): Chris Grayling from shadow Commons Leader to Health
Posted by: Edward Lennox | 29 November 2005 at 18:56
Shadow Chancellor: William Hague (Cameron and Osborne should insist)
Shadow Home Secretary: David Davis
Shadow Foreign Secretary: Liam Fox
Chairman: Chris Grayling
Chief Whip: Patrick McLoughlin
Theresa May's role: Health
Iain Duncan Smith's role: Defence
Ken Clarke's role: None
David Davis' role: Home
Oliver Letwin's role: Environment
Deputy Leader: None
Head of Policy Development: David Willets
Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): Hague to Shadow Chancellor
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: John Redwood
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where): New leadership managed to persuade Hague to do it.
Posted by: westminster tory | 29 November 2005 at 19:52
Shadow Chancellor: Liam Fox
Shadow Home Secretary: Malcolm Rifkind
Shadow Foreign Secretary: William Hague
Chairman: George Osbourne
Chief Whip: David Maclean
Theresa May's role: Health
Iain Duncan Smith's role: Social Policy (or similar role)
Ken Clarke's role: None
David Davis' role: Defence
Oliver Letwin's role: DEFRA
Deputy Leader: Liam Fox
Head of Policy Development: David Willetts
Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): Teresa Villiers to Minister for Europe
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: John Redwood
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where): Boris Johnson to Youth Minister
Posted by: vic | 29 November 2005 at 21:05
As an American, I'm probably just revealing the depths of my ignorance of life in the UK as it is actually lived (like when John Locke put together a constitution for colonial Carolina that had to be scrapped after a few years); nonetheless, here goes (wishing that Alan Clark was still among the living ):
Shadow Chancellor: Cameron (if Davis wins)
Shadow Home Secretary: Theresa May
Shadow Foreign Secretary: Kenneth Clarke
Chairman: Boris Johnson
Chief Whip: Edward Leigh
Theresa May's role: Home Sec'y
Iain Duncan Smith's role: Party Chairman
Ken Clarke's role: Foreign Sec'y
David Davis' role: Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition
Oliver Letwin's role: Deputy Leader
Deputy Leader: Oliver Letwin
Head of Policy Development: Edward Vaizey
Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): Edward Leigh, Chief Whip
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: Malcolm Rifkind
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where): Theresa May, Home Affairs
Posted by: Edmund Unneland | 30 November 2005 at 00:35
Damn it, my post previous is internally inconsistent. Of course, Boris Johnson for Party Chairman and no role for Iain Duncan Smith (my guess is that he doesn't want one for the time being given his work for the Campaign for Social Justice).
Posted by: Edmund Unneland | 30 November 2005 at 00:39
1. Shadow Chancellor: William Hague
2. Shadow Home Secretary: David Davis
3. Shadow Foreign Secretary: Liam Fox
4. Chairman: George Osborne
5. Chief Whip: John Hayes
6. Theresa May's role: Culture
7. Iain Duncan Smith's role: Advisor to shadow cabinet on social justice
8. Ken Clarke's role: Deputy Leader
9. David Davis' role: Home
10. Oliver Letwin's role: Head of Policy
11. Deputy Leader: Ken Clarke
12. Head of Policy Development: Oliver Letwin
Posted by: james | 30 November 2005 at 15:48
Shadow Chancellor: Ken Clarke
Shadow Home Secretary: George Osbourne
Shadow Foreign Secretary: William Hague
Chairman: Francis Maude
Chief Whip: Patrick McLoughlin
Theresa May's role: Shadow Health
Iain Duncan Smith's role: None
Ken Clarke's role: Shadow Chancellor
David Davis' role: Deputy Leader and Shadow Leader of the House
Oliver Letwin's role: Environment
Deputy Leader: David Davis
Head of Policy Development: David Willets
Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): Ken Clarke – Shadow Chancellor
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: David Maclean
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where): Boris Johnson – International Development
Posted by: Andy Cooke | 01 December 2005 at 15:31
Shadow Chancellor: Osborne
Shadow Home Secretary: Fox
Shadow Foreign Secretary: Lansley
Chairman: Maude
Chief Whip: Edward Leigh
Theresa May's role: Health
Iain Duncan Smith's role: none
Ken Clarke's role: none
David Davis' role: Defence
Oliver Letwin's role: Work & P (Spelman replacing Letwin at Environment)
Deputy Leader: DD
Head of Policy Development: Gove
Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): Hague to Education
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: Willets
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where): Julie Kirkbride to replace Mitchell at Int. Development
Posted by: TField | 01 December 2005 at 20:33
Shadow Chancellor: Hague
Shadow Home Secretary: Fox
Shadow Foreign Secretary: Davis
Chairman: Lansley
Chief Whip: Grayling
Theresa May's role: Health
Iain Duncan Smith's role: none
Ken Clarke's role: none
David Davis' role: Foreign
Oliver Letwin's role: Environment
Deputy Leader: DD
Head of Policy Development: Willetts
Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): Hague to Shadow Chancellor
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: John Redwood
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where): David Davis to Deputy Leader
Posted by: cfox | 01 December 2005 at 21:25
Shadow chancellor: Ken Clarke
Shadow Home Secretary: William Hague
Shadow Foreign Secretary: Liam Fox
Chairman: Boris Johnston
Chief Whip: Grayling
Theresa May: Education
Iain Duncan Smith: a role in Policy development.
Ken Clarke: see above
David Davis: Defence
Oliver Letwin: Transport
Deputy Leader: David Davis
Head of Policy Development: David Willets (role for Michael Gove and Iain Duncan Smith)
Biggest promotion: Ken Clarke to Shadow Chancellor.
Biggest sacking: John Redwood
Most surprising appointment: Boris Johnston as Chairman
Posted by: Chris D | 03 December 2005 at 19:18
Shadow Chancellor: George Osborne
Shadow Home Secretary: Liam Fox
Shadow Foreign Secretary: William Hague
Chairman: Francis Maude
Chief Whip: Oliver Heald
Theresa May's role: Education
Iain Duncan Smith's role: Social Justice/Family
Ken Clarke's role: none
David Davis' role: Leader of the House / Deputy Leader
Oliver Letwin's role: Transport
Deputy Leader: David Davis
Head of Policy Development: Ed Vaizey
Biggest promotion awarded to (state who and to where): Michael Gove to International Devt
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: It's got to be Redwood
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where): Nick Herbert to Shadow Chief Secretary to Treasury
Posted by: MattSimpson | 04 December 2005 at 00:37
Why on earth would John Redwood be sacked ? He's the most talented, clear thinking and hard working of the lot. Not saying it won't happen - just it shouldn't and would be completely undeserved. He should be the leader actually.
Posted by: William Murphy | 04 December 2005 at 19:59
Shadow Chancellor: George Osbourne
Shadow Home Secretary: Liam Fox
Shadow Foreign Secretary: William Hague
Chairman: Theresa May
Chief Whip: Patrick McLoughlin
Theresa May's role: Chairman
Iain Duncan Smith's role: none in the Shadow Cabinet
Ken Clarke's role: none in the Shadow Cabinet
David Davis' role: Defence and 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): Theresa May coming back as Chairman
Biggest sacking from shadow cabinet: John Redwood
Most surprising appointment (state who and to where): Boris Johnson at Transport
Posted by: Free Democrat | 04 December 2005 at 23:12