Reshuffle: Ministers facing the sack in mutiny against David Cameron
JOE MURPHY, POLITICAL EDITOR
Published: 14 July 2014 Updated: 17:58, 14 July 2014
David Cameron faced a mutiny from ministers facing the sack tonight in a reshuffle cull of “male and pale” Cabinet members.
Friends of Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said there would be “fury” in the countryside if the right winger was axed. Lord [Greville] Howard of Rising, said “There are 12 million voters in the countryside and they will be absolutely furious if he is moved.”
Andrew Lansley, the Commons leader, is also believed to be resisting a return to the backbenches, arguing that he was promised to be nominated for a plum European Commissioner post.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan-Smith is thought to have been successful in a fight against Treasury pressure to move him and is expected to have won the right to stay in charge of benefits reform.
Mr Cameron plans to carry out sackings in his Commons office tonight and to make appointments tomorrow. The regular Tuesday Cabinet has been postponed until a special session at Chequers on Friday.