whos who in government

© Urban Forum 2010

Read our 'who's who' in the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition cabinet. 

David Cameron (Con), Prime Minister
Before becoming the Conservative Party leader in 2005, David Cameron was the Conservatives' campaign co-ordinator at the 2005 general election and shadow education secretary. He has been Member for Witney since 2001. At age 43, Cameron is the youngest Prime Minister since 1812.
 
Nick Clegg (Lib Dem), Deputy Prime Minister
Under the coalition government agreement, Nick Clegg becomes Deputy Prime Minister under David Cameron. Also only 43 years old, Clegg was a Member of the European Parliament from 1999 until 2004, and was elected to Parliament in 2005. He became leader of the Liberal Democrats in 2007.

George Osbourne (Con), Chancellor
Before becoming Shadow Chancellor in May 2005, George Osbourne served as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Shadow Economic Secretary, as well as sitting on the Public Accounts Select Committee. He will have overall responsibility for the work of the Treasury, including overseeing banks and financial regulation.

Theresa May (Con), Home Secretary and Minister for Women & Equalities
Theresa May has held several positions within Parliament since 1997. She was a member of the Shadow Cabinet from 1999 to 2010, including as Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Employment, Shadow Secretary of State for Work & Pensions, and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons. From 2002 to 2003 she was the first female Chairman of the Conservative Party. As Home Secretary, she is responsible for internal affairs as well as citizenship and immigration. Her role as Minister for Women & Equalities means that she is also responsible for the Government Equalities Office. Lynn Featherstone (Lib Dem) has been appointed as the Minister for Equalities.

Nick Hurd MP (Con), Minister for Civil Society
Nick Hurd will be responsible for charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations, in the Office for Civil Society (previously known as the Office of the Third Sector). He was previously in the equivalent Shadow role of Shadow Minister for Charities, Social Enterprising and Volunteering
Government policy will focus on three fundamental issues:
• Making it easier to run a charity, social enterprise or voluntary organisation
• Getting more resources into the sector: strengthening its independence and resilience
• Making it easier for sector organisations to work with the state

Eric Pickles MP (Con), Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
In January 2009 David Cameron appointed Eric Pickles Chairman of the Conservative Party. He joined the Shadow Cabinet in July 2007 as Communities and Local Government Secretary having served from August 2005 to July 2007 as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party. He has also served in a variety of shadow ministerial roles, including transport, local government and social security spokesman and was leader of Bradford District Council for three years up until 1991.

DCLG Ministers:
- Greg Clark MP (Con) - Minister of State with responsibilities for decentralisation (including across Government), the Big Society and planning policy

- Grant Shapps MP (Con) - Minister of State with responsibilities for housing, local government, regeneration, climate change and sustainable development

- Andrew Stunell OBE MP (Lib Dem) - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibilities for community cohesion (including future of Prevent),race equality, building regulations, the Big Society, housing and regeneration

- Bob Neill MP (Con) - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibilities for fire and resilience, Thames Gateway and the Olympics and local government and planning.

- Baroness Hanham (Con) - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibilities for productivity, procurement and value for money, transparency and data, climate change and sustainable development, Ordnance Survey and Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre.

Nat Wei, Government adviser on Big Society
Nat Wei was one of Teach First's founding team and also founded Future Leaders. He is currently the lead Partner at the Shaftsbury Partnership as well as head of New Programme Development (Ventures) for Absolute Return for Kids. Nat has been appointed to advise the Government on the necessary steps to take forward and drive the Big Society agenda, which will include engaging with civil society groups.


Full cabinet list:

William Hague (Con), Foreign Secretary
Vince Cable (Lib Dem), Business Secretary
Jeremy Hunt (Con), Culture Secretary
Dr Liam Fox (Con), Defence Secretary
Michael Gove (Con), Education Secretary
Chris Huhne (Lib Dem), Energy & Climate Change Secretary
Caroline Spelman (Con) Environment Secretary
Andrew Lansley (Con) Health Secretary
Andrew Mitchell (Con), International Development Secretary
Baroness Warsi (Con), Conservative Party Chairman
Lord Strathclyde (Con), Leader of the Lords
Ken Clarke (Con), Lord Chancellor
Owen Paterson (Con), Northern Ireland Secretary
Phil Hammon (Con), Transport Secretary
Cheryl Gillan (Con), Welsh Secretary
Iain Duncan Smith (Con), Work & Pensions Secretary

2 June Update:
Danny Alexander (Lib Dem) has been appointed as Chief Secretary to the Treasury following David Laws' resignation. Michael Moore has replaced Danny Alexander as Scottish Secretary