By Paul Goodman
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Cameron should be willing to move Hague and May in order to get Cable out of the Business portfolio and David Laws appointed in his place.
Most reshuffles don't matter. But this one does.
That is the premise of my piece in today's Daily Telegraph, though I also write that "if [David Cameron's Ministers] can't come up with the right policies for growth (and the Treasury's determination is in doubt) then shifting them about will make no difference".
With the boundary review lost and no economic recovery, the Prime Minister should throw the dice. He can't salvage the review. But he can go for growth – without the prospect of it, his 2015 chances will fade further. I set three conditions for recommendations:
The key, as I put it in the Telegraph, is:
"…that replacing Mr Cable with a more business-friendly figure would help to boost growth medium-term, revive business confidence and send a signal to voters that the (700) Government is going for growth".
So I argue that Mr Cameron should:
I appreciate the problems. Dr Cable at the Home Office would mean no tough law and order policy, even if a Chris Grayling or a Nick Herbert were moved into the Justice Ministry. And Mr Hague might well politely tell the Prime Minister to get lost.
But the question is: what are the realistic – not the ideal – alternatives, given Mr Cameron's position (which is grim)? I quite like Tim's idea of moving Mr Gove into CCHQ, but it breaks my third rule. But either way, the Prime Minister needs radical options, and fast.