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Cameron game changer aims to improve recession blues
Source: Agencies |
September 5, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron kept his Finance Minister George Osborne in a reshuffle of his cabinet yesterday that he hopes will revive the Conservative-led government's fortunes in the middle of a term dominated by recession.
Cameron's office has billed the rejig as a game changer but heavyweights such as Foreign Secretary William Hague stayed put and few changes are expected in policy.
The prime minister's scope for a sweeping overhaul is limited by the constraints of life in coalition with the left-leaning Liberal Democrats and the danger of creating enemies among his own Conservatives at a delicate time.
Osborne, a close Cameron ally, was booed by crowds before he presented medals to Paralympics winners on Monday night, highlighting discontent with budget cuts that have repeatedly missed the government's targets and the general economic gloom.
Polls show many Britons think Osborne should be sacked but replacing too many senior ministers could be interpreted as an admission of policy failure, particularly on the economy.
Cameron instead to beef up his economic team by giving Justice Secretary Ken Clarke - a former finance minister - a new role with an economics brief. Lib Dem David Laws, another respected economic brain, was also given a ministerial role.
Government officials argue that shifting Osborne from his post would raise questions on financial markets about Cameron's resolve in tackling Britain's large budget deficit.
Cameron, with his party's popularity down as the economy sours, has stuck to his guns with austerity, hoping that growth will return before the next parliamentary election in 2015.
Osborne's March budget cut taxes for the richest while raising levies on the elderly, leading to criticism the coalition was out of touch with those at the bottom of the ladder struggling in the downturn.
Cameron moved International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell to take charge of internal party discipline in parliament.
Cameron's office has billed the rejig as a game changer but heavyweights such as Foreign Secretary William Hague stayed put and few changes are expected in policy.
The prime minister's scope for a sweeping overhaul is limited by the constraints of life in coalition with the left-leaning Liberal Democrats and the danger of creating enemies among his own Conservatives at a delicate time.
Osborne, a close Cameron ally, was booed by crowds before he presented medals to Paralympics winners on Monday night, highlighting discontent with budget cuts that have repeatedly missed the government's targets and the general economic gloom.
Polls show many Britons think Osborne should be sacked but replacing too many senior ministers could be interpreted as an admission of policy failure, particularly on the economy.
Cameron instead to beef up his economic team by giving Justice Secretary Ken Clarke - a former finance minister - a new role with an economics brief. Lib Dem David Laws, another respected economic brain, was also given a ministerial role.
Government officials argue that shifting Osborne from his post would raise questions on financial markets about Cameron's resolve in tackling Britain's large budget deficit.
Cameron, with his party's popularity down as the economy sours, has stuck to his guns with austerity, hoping that growth will return before the next parliamentary election in 2015.
Osborne's March budget cut taxes for the richest while raising levies on the elderly, leading to criticism the coalition was out of touch with those at the bottom of the ladder struggling in the downturn.
Cameron moved International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell to take charge of internal party discipline in parliament.
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