The aimless weekend speculation among the 'knowing' - aka political paparazzi - is of a ‘quickie’ cabinet reshuffle sometime in the next few weeks - most likely precipitated by the anticipated exit of Chris Huhne in order to clear his name or whatever.
Most press observers think that Andrew Lansley is already being manoeuvred out the door by a spectacular lack of support from Downing Street. The quiet betting is that Ken Clarke will also become the personification of Justice in that not only will he be done but be seen to be done around the same time. A projected 2:1 casualty ratio should more or less satisfy those Conservatives preoccupied with a ’balanced’ cabinet and a bit more nous in the right places.
Self-appointed bookies suggest that Lib Dem Paul Burstow, current minister for care services, could be in the running for a highre spot with his past aggression towards tory coalition colleagues actually standing him in good stead. They are less sure about whether junior Justice minister Crispin Blunt has a similarly bright future.
A really intriguing facet however is the veiled suggestions creeping out of the Cabinet Office that Foreign Secretary William Hague could have done a “more effective job” over Libya. The implication is that he has been repeatedly wrong-footed by Hilary Clinton’s interventions and allowed Sarkozy to lead him by the nose on troop deployments.
No-one seems to be too bothered as to whether any of these inferred allegations are even vaguely accurate. Simply the fact that thay are apparently being said at all is probably enough to ruin one's Bank Holiday weekend.
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