More reshuffle falling into place – Duncan Hames new PPS to @nick_clegg and so almost certainly new FPC chair too
— Mark Pack (@markpack) September 5, 2012
Interested in international development? Here’s your background reading for today bit.ly/OWy2PP – new minister on issue from 2007
— Mark Pack (@markpack) September 5, 2012
No Lib Dem SpAd changes by the looks of it #reshuffle
— Mark Pack (@markpack) September 5, 2012
Some great posts on libdemblogs.co.uk re reshuffle. Overall tho’ striking how much debate has moved to Twitter and Facebook
— Mark Pack (@markpack) September 4, 2012
No.10 spksman on Laws’ last-minute Cabinet status: “The DPM suggested it wd be a good idea for him to attend Cabinet and the PM agreed”
— Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) September 5, 2012
Oooh, one new Lib Dem minister and they’re female… Jenny Randerson to join Welsh Office. Good news too for over-stretched Lords team
— Mark Pack (@markpack) September 5, 2012
And note the choice of policy area for Nick Clegg to highlight today:
PHOTO: Nick Clegg & David Laws visit Mulberry School London to discuss the pupil premium with students, staff & parents twitter.com/DPMoffice/stat…
— Deputy PM (@DPMoffice) September 5, 2012
Here’s what I told one newspaper:
Mark Pack, who was the Liberal Democrats’ head of innovations until June 2009 and now co-edits a website for supporters and activists, agreed that there was a risk of coalition instability as a result of a Tory pivot to the right.
But he also pointed to factors pointing the other way: “For example, it makes it easier for the Liberal Democrats to differentiate themselves form the Tories.”
“I also think that David Cameron is clearly committed to making the coalition work, but he has to be able to lead his party to do that. So if the reshuffle ends up strengthening his control over his own party then that does make working with him a bit easier. In many ways, this reshuffle is about each party thinking about their own party.”
Meanwhile in economic news:
Morning- starting the day with some good news – UKhas gone up in competitiveness league from 10th to 8th in world say World Economic Forum
— Laura Kuenssberg (@ITVLauraK) September 5, 2012
[...] Clegg – Duncan Hames (and due to be Federal Policy Committee chair) – succeeds Jo Swinson who is now a minister Danny Alexander – Lorely Burt (hooray) [...]