On this blog we'll be bringing you all of the latest news from the reshuffle which is now underway…
8.45pm Some final bits of news.
Firstly, the Lib Dems have apparently negotiated a place in the Wales Office, so presumably a Welsh Lib Dem appointment will be announced in due course.
Secondly, Sam Gyimah has been appointed David Cameron's PPS, replacing Desmond Swayne.
Finally, below is a list of outgoing Ministers awarded honours:
8.30pm: Downing Street has confirmed the full list of Ministers who have "resigned" from government:
Wednesday 9.45am: Two new Whips have been appointed:
Swayne was previously the PPS to David Cameron (and IDS and Howard), and sent round regular "Comrades…" emails to colleagues. The transition to being a Whip probably won't be terribly hard. Greg Knight was the Deputy Chief Whip under John Major.
9.30pm An update on Lib Dem news:
BREAKING: Simon Hughes offered deputy leader of house but turned it down. Tom Brake gets it. Lynne Featherstone to DfID #reshuffle
— Jane Merrick (@janemerrick23) September 4, 2012
7.45pm The latest batch of Ministerial appointments has been announced by Downing Street:
A few points. Firstly, Jeremy Browne is a small-state Liberal who believes in free markets and low taxes. However, his appointment to a Home Office post is clearly not going to focus on the size of state, and will focus more on security and crime issues – he will be less sound on those subjects.
Secondly, John Hayes was doing good work overseeing the Government's apprenticeships programme – his move to DECC could be seen as a demotion. This requires some explanation. Thirdly, Philip Dunne, Stephen Hammond, and Jeremy Wright are 2005 intake members – who have been noticeably absent from appointments so far. Finally, Daniel Poulter is another 2010 intake rising star.
6.30pm Two appointments:
6.15pm Another shuffle: James Forsyth reports Chloe Smith, currently at the Treasury will move to the Cabinet Office under Francis Maude. Meanwhile, more details from Number 10 on the Paul Deighton appointment:
"He will take up his post as Commercial Secretary to the Treasury at the start of next year, once he has completed his responsibilities with the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Mr Deighton will be a Minister in the House of Lords and report to the Chancellor of the Exchequer as a Treasury Minister. His position will be unpaid. He will have responsibility for implementation of the 30-year National Infrastructure Plan published in 2010… In doing this he is being tasked with removing any unnecessary blockages that are holding back projects from happening."
6pm Three more female 2010 intake MPs:
And other appointments: Bob Neill leaves DCLG to return to the backbenches, Matthew Hancock, who is very close to the Treasury, heads to BIS – along with Michael Fallon, to keep an eye on Vince Cable, and Lib Dem David Heath moves to DEFRA to keep an eye on Owen Paterson
5.30pm: Encouraging news for the 2010 intake - James Forsyth of the Spectator tweets that Liz Truss has been appointed the Minister with responsibility for early years education. Education is her strong suit, so this seems an ideal appointment. An interesting question to be asked after the reshuffle: how active will the Free Enterprise Group be if several of its key members are tied down in ministerial roles? Her appointment is a mini-victory for ConHome's post on 10 MPs to watch from the 2010 intake.
5.15pm: Three bits of news. Firstly, reports suggest Greg Clark, currently at DCLG, will be made the "City Minister" at the Treasury, and a "surprise name" will replace him. Secondly, in a coup for Cameron, Paul Deighton, an investment banker and chief executive of the successful London Organising Committee of the Games will be given a peerage and join the Treasury team as "Minister for Economic Delivery". Finally, Tim Loughton announced his return to the backbenches on Twitter a short while ago:
Regret 2 report after 7 yrs Shadow Minister and 2 as Minister 4 Children PM asked me 2 stand down-good luck 2 successor in this vital role
— Tim Loughton MP (@timloughton) September 4, 2012
4.30pm: A quick roundup of more Ministerial changes, confirmed by Downing Street:
Gerald Howarth has been removed as a Defence Minister, Mark Hoban replaces Chris Grayling at DWP, and Mike Fabricant has resigned as a Whip, according to his own Twitter page. Perhaps also worth noting Mike Penning, moved to Northern Ireland, served in the province as a Grenadier Guardsman. Finally, Mark Hoban's move to DWP opens up a vacancy at the Treasury by my reckoning…
4.15pm: Nick Harvey, the Lib Dem Defence Minister, is to stand down from his post. He will be reportedly replaced by a Tory Minister – in exchange for an extra Lib Dem Minister at DEFRA. Is this the first sign of Lib Dems counter-acting Tory appointments by trying to neuter Owen Paterson?
4pm: The Herbert resignation is a loss – he is a good communicator for the Government. He has just tweeted:
Decided to step down from Govt. Honoured to have worked with police & driven big reforms. Will focus on new ideas & protecting countryside.
— Nick Herbert (@nickherbertmp) September 4, 2012
3.45pm: The first few reports of appointments are coming through…