There is all sorts of gossipy speculation about David Cameron's first shadow cabinet including a suggestion in The Sunday Telegraph that Alan Duncan will be given a big job:
"The diminutive and dapper MP for Rutland and Melton has had a chequered front bench career, edging closer to one of the popular portfolios. Mr Duncan, 48, is currently shadow transport secretary. The wait for a post that will allow him to shine could be near an end, however, as Mr Cameron is said to have the highest regard for his relaxed, televisual style and appeal to younger voters. He was the first Tory MP openly to declare himself gay."
The consensus points to Osborne staying as Shadow Chancellor, Hague returning as Shadow Foreign Secretary and Fox moving to Home affairs.
Davis is expected to be demoted to Defence - a position he may refuse. Replacing Davis with Fox will be controversial but one Cameroonie tells The Telegraph:
"Davis's reputation has fallen dramatically. There is no question in our minds that the leader of the Right is now Liam Fox."
The Davis-ites might be mollified with jobs for Davis allies. Damian Green and Andrew Mitchell may be kept sweet with top jobs, for example. The highly-regarded Nick Herbert, and close friend of Mr Davis, may also be given a junior role.
Oliver Letwin will oversee a comprehensive policy review and may also retain the environment portfolio. This will be a controversial appointment as Mr Letwin's support for Kyoto environmentalism and his cautious approach to tax policies are strongly opposed by let-the-economy-grow conservatives. Only yesterday sixty business leaders warned that Labour's tax rises threatened long-term decline for the UK economy.
Theresa May, Caroline Spelman and Boris Johnson are all expected to get big promotions.
Francis Maude is expected to stay as Chairman and will pursue a radical approach to candidate selection. This may include a gold list of candidates for the most important target seats.
The Right will be watching to see if their leading lights are included around the top table. If there are shadow cabinet positions for the likes of John Hayes and John Redwood the Right will be happy. Many on the Right remember how John Major sidelined right-wing MPs after he was re-elected Tory leader in 1995 after defeating Mr Redwood in a confidence vote.
The Observer reports that Mr Cameron will begin his leadership with a speech heavy on themes, light on detail. He will stress optimism, public services, climate change, social justice, social enterprise and work-life balance.
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