Hampshire MPs in cabinet reshuffle (From Daily Echo)

Hampshire MPs in cabinet reshuffle

3:18pm Tuesday 4th September 2012 in News

ONE Hampshire MP has been drafted into the cabinet as another leaves, as part of the reshuffle announced today by Downing Street.

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller has been appointed Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, in place of Jeremy Hunt, and Minister for Women and Equalities, Downing Street said.

Shutting down dozens of factories that employ disabled workers has earnt the Government's new Culture Secretary the nickname ''Maria Miller factory killer''.

The Tory sparked waves of protests across the country earlier this year after ordering the closure of the 27 loss-making Remploy sites, a move critics claimed would sentence many of the employees to a life of poverty.

It is not the only issue that has seen Mrs Miller go head to head with trade unions during her two years in government. Just a few months ago she was condemned for attacking Britain's jobless as lacking an ''appetite'' to work.

Her stance has earnt her admirers on the right of the Conservative Party while she has impressed Tory high command with the way she has performed as minister for the disabled.
Mrs Miller, 48, was elected as MP for Basingstoke in 2005 and was made shadow minister for education in David Cameron's first front bench team.

Before entering Parliament the mother of three was a director of Grey Advertising and Rowland Saatchi and also did a stint in marketing for oil company Texaco.

Born near Wolverhampton, she was brought up in Bridgend, Wales, attending the same school as Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones, and went on to study at the London School of Economics.

She had been tipped as a potential candidate to take over from Cheryl Gillan as Welsh Secretary and was a surprise choice to take over from Jeremy Hunt at the department for culture, media and sport.

Mrs Miller said: ''I am delighted to have been appointed as the Culture Secretary by the Prime Minister and am very much looking forward to tackling the many challenges that the role will bring.''

Meanwhile, David Cameron paid tribute to Sir George Young, who is returning to the backbenches after serving as Commons Leader since the coalition Government came to power in 2010.

Sir Young has been the MP for North West Hampshire since 1997, and has been in parliament since 1974, when he was elected to represent the now abolished Ealing Acton constituency.

Elsewhere, Ken Clarke has lost his role as justice secretary and is replaced by Chris Grayling. Jeremey Hunt, replaces Andrew Lansley as health minister.

The new-look Cabinet was discussed by Mr Cameron and Lib Dem Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, although the final decisions on each party's ministers was taken by the two leaders individually.