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Final reshuffle appointments to be made ahead of Prime Minister's Questions Cameron defends reshuffle changes amid Labour criticism
(about 5 hours later)
David Cameron is due to complete the final appointments in his biggest ministerial reshuffle later ahead of questions from MPs in the Commons. David Cameron has defended changes to his cabinet as he put the finishing touches to the biggest ministerial reshuffle since taking office.
The prime minister made sweeping changes to his front bench, replacing Education Secretary Michael Gove and Foreign Secretary William Hague. The prime minister stood by Michael Gove's move from education to chief whip and said there were more women attending cabinet than under Labour.
Some junior posts are yet to be filled. Labour said Mr Gove had been demoted after his schools reforms "failed".
Mr Cameron will fly to Brussels for a European summit following the last Prime Minister's Questions before the Commons' summer break. Among further appointments announced, Andrew Selous becomes prisons minister in the Ministry of Justice.
Amid suggestions that the Tory reshuffle has made the government more Eurosceptic, Lib Dem deputy prime minister Nick Clegg told Sky News his party's influence would ensure the coalition "remained anchored in the centre ground with Britain anchored firmly in the heart of the European Union". At Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron said the former education secretary was the "best candidate" to become chief whip - a move that caused surprise among Conservative MPs.
He praised Mr Gove's record in his former job, saying he had achieved "a record number of academies, new free schools, standard rising across the country and reforms that will endure".
'Shabby'
But Labour leader Ed Miliband said "thousands of parents" would be rejoicing at Mr Gove's "demotion".
"So why did he do it? Is it the shortage of primary places, the unqualified teachers, or the failure of his free schools. If it has all been such a success I don't know why he sacked the education secretary."
As well as being put in charge of party discipline in the Commons, and ensuring the government gets its legislation passed, Mr Gove has been given a wider role promoting the Conservatives' policies in the media in the run-up to next year's general election.
But Michael Gove's wife, the journalist Sarah Vine, drew fresh attention to the appointment by re-tweeting a link to a Daily Mail article which was highly critical of the reshuffle.
In the newspaper, for which Ms Vine writes, commentator Max Hastings described the reshuffle as a "shabby day's work which Cameron will live to regret".
EU negotiations
But deputy prime minister Nick Clegg poked fun at the Mail's coverage of the reshuffle, which included a double-page spread of pictures of female ministers, including commentary on their dress sense, under the heading "battle of Downing Street catwalk".
He tweeted a picture of himself outside No 10 wearing a business suit, saying "he hopes the Mail approves".
Business Secretary Vince Cable also enjoyed some post-reshuffle fun, after Labour's Chuka Umunna noted that the veteran Lib Dem now had five Conservative minders.
It was actually seven by his count now, Mr Cable said.
As his new-look cabinet starts work, Mr Cameron will join EU leaders to discuss the allocation of jobs in the new European Commission.As his new-look cabinet starts work, Mr Cameron will join EU leaders to discuss the allocation of jobs in the new European Commission.
Lord Hill, who until the reshuffle was the Conservative leader in the House of Lords, is the government's nomination as the UK's commissioner. Mr Cameron is expected to push for Lord Hill, the former Conservative leader in the House of Lords who is the government's nomination as the UK's commissioner, to be given one of the key economic portfolios.
Mr Cameron is expected to push for the peer to be given one of the key economic portfolios. New Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told the BBC Lord Hill was "one of the most effective political operators we have got" and would be able to "build alliances" behind the scenes to get the reforms the UK wanted.
The prime minister's spokesman denied that Britain's case for a top job would be weakened by Lord Hill being widely unknown. He would, the spokesman said, be treated with "very considerable respect" by EU figures. Amid suggestions that the Tory reshuffle has made the government more Eurosceptic, Mr Clegg told Sky News his party's influence would ensure Britain was "anchored firmly in the heart of the European Union".
New Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told the BBC that Lord Hill was "one of the most effective political operators we have got" and the ability to "build alliances" behind the scenes was "exactly the kind of skill" needed to get the reforms the UK wanted. Among further reshuffle changes and developments announced on Wednesday.
He said it was too early to say what portfolio Lord Hill would be given but the UK was "interested" in the trade and competition jobs - as the right people were needed in these posts to champion a reform agenda. Unlike past leaders of the House of Lords, Baroness Stowell will not be a full cabinet member in her own right, although - like some other ministers - she will have the right to attend.
The reshuffle was Mr Cameron's biggest shake-up since becoming prime minister. 'Diminished status'
Mr Gove was replaced at education by former Treasury Minister Nicky Morgan, while Mr Hague stepped down as foreign secretary to be replaced by Philip Hammond. Peers from all parties took issue with the decision during a stormy session in the Upper Chamber.
Among the other changes announced: Former Scottish secretary Lord Forsyth said it was "first time in history" that there would be no full cabinet minister sitting in the House of Lords and it "would not wash".
The number of women in cabinet went up from three to five, out of a total of 22 ministers in Mr Cameron's top team. Former Labour minister Lord Cunningham said Mr Cameron had "diminished the standing and rank of this House" while former attorney general Baroness Scotland said it was a "constitutional outrage".
Ten women have been promoted so far, across government, with three taking ministerial jobs for the first time. But Baroness Stowell said her authority had not been "diluted" and she would contribute to cabinet discussions in exactly the same way as her predecessor Lord Hill.
Employment minister Esther McVey told the BBC News Channel that the success of "high-achieving" female politicians would be an inspiration to women across the country. "I don't need status to get things done," she insisted. "I have got the authority I need".
Being asked to attend cabinet in her current role, the Wirral West MP added, was a "important win" for the North West of England in terms of getting the views of people she represented heard at the "top table". As a result of the changes, the number of women in cabinet went up from three to five, out of a total of 22 ministers in Mr Cameron's top team.
Eleven women have been promoted across government, with three taking ministerial jobs for the first time.
AnalysisAnalysis
Chris Mason, BBC political correspondentChris Mason, BBC political correspondent
With an election now just 10 months away this was a reshuffle less about the business of governing, and rather more about the business of winning next May.With an election now just 10 months away this was a reshuffle less about the business of governing, and rather more about the business of winning next May.
Mr Cameron's new line-up are the faces and voices that will articulate the Conservative message between now and polling day, attempting to soothe the anxieties of those who may have flirted with UKIP or been drawn towards Labour.Mr Cameron's new line-up are the faces and voices that will articulate the Conservative message between now and polling day, attempting to soothe the anxieties of those who may have flirted with UKIP or been drawn towards Labour.
It would seem impossible, for instance, that the new Education Secretary Nicky Morgan will pick quite as many fights as her predecessor Michael Gove.It would seem impossible, for instance, that the new Education Secretary Nicky Morgan will pick quite as many fights as her predecessor Michael Gove.
Philip Hammond, meanwhile, the new foreign secretary, once voiced the possibility of the UK leaving the European Union if a renegotiation of powers was unsuccessful.Philip Hammond, meanwhile, the new foreign secretary, once voiced the possibility of the UK leaving the European Union if a renegotiation of powers was unsuccessful.
Reshuffles, on their own, rarely shift opinion polls. But the prime minister will hope the impression a refreshed cast of ministers can leave over time can make a difference.Reshuffles, on their own, rarely shift opinion polls. But the prime minister will hope the impression a refreshed cast of ministers can leave over time can make a difference.
Mr Cameron denied the move to the whips' office was a demotion for Mr Gove. Mr Cameron defended the progress he had made in addressing the gender imbalance in the cabinet amid Labour criticism that 75% of his top team were still male.
Asked if the change represented a "punishment" for Mr Gove's recent spat with Home Secretary Theresa May, the prime minister said: "I can tell you, if you are prime minister, the chief whip is one of the most important jobs in government. "The government before had four women cabinet ministers and three additional women attending cabinet. We now have five full members of the cabinet and an additional three attending," he said.
"I wanted one of my big hitters, one of my real stars, one of my great brains, someone who has done extraordinary things for education in this country, to do that job, to deliver the government's programme, to help secure the future for our country." "When it comes to Conservatives sitting round the cabinet table, I am proud to say a third are now women."
Michael Gove's wife, the journalist Sarah Vine, wrote in the Daily Mail that her family was about to embark on a "new, even livelier chapter". Employment minister Esther McVey told the BBC the success of "high-achieving" female politicians would inspire women across the country.
She revealed that her husband had recently bought books by former Conservative MPs, Tim Renton and Gyles Brandreth, about their experiences in the Whips Office.
Labour described the reshuffle as a "massacre of the moderates", saying it signalled a move to the right for the Tories.