Time and again, their more muscular – to borrow a phrase – approach to Westminster’s prerogatives has paid off. Yet they don’t set Union policy.
His appointments to the Territorial Offices are a mixed bag: Cairns is a welcome retention, Jack a bold but possibly risky change, and Smith another letdown for Ulster.
Also: Welsh Tories criticise Jones’ delayed departure; Welsh Labour row over voting reform continues; Trimble attacks ‘scaremongering’ over Ulster; and more.
The Institute for Government’s new guide reminds us that the Conservative-Liberal Democrat partnership helped to improve Britain for the better.
They should have to show that changes to the civil service’s departmental structures serve the public interest rather than party political or personnel management goals.
The second article in a five-part ConHome series this week on the future of the United Kingdom.