Cabinet reshuffle: Theresa May set to refresh top team

[shenmue]

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-42597785

[nycbos]

1. Will ministers be like this?

[Denzil_DC]

7. Jim Hacker would tower like a god

over the current rabble presiding over their self-inflicted shambles.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Deleted Tory tweet names Chris Grayling as chair in chaotic start to reshuffle

Theresa May’s much-heralded cabinet reshuffle began chaotically on Monday after a tweeted announcement that Chris Grayling had become the new Conservative party chairman was swiftly deleted amid speculation he might not get the role after all.

After the first confirmed move of the day – James Brokenshire resigned as Northern Ireland secretary due to health reasons – several reports said Grayling was being moved from being transport secretary to party chair.

This appeared official after the Conservative Twitter account sent a photo of Grayling with the message: “Congratulations to Chris Grayling following his appointment as Conservative party chairman.”

However, this message was then deleted, as reports began that Brandon Lewis, the immigration minister, might get the post instead.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jan/08/james-brokenshire-resigns-northern-ireland-secretary-cabinet-reshuffle

'Piss-up' and 'brewery' spring to mind ...

[LeftishBrit]

3. If that's a top team, god knows what a bottom team would be! (sorry, couldn't resist)

[LeftishBrit]

4. Oh, and Esther McVey has just been made Secretary for Work and Pensions

Judging from her record as Disabilities Minister, she might just be the next IDS. O joy.

[T_i_B]

5. Dominic Raab and Heather Wheeler at the depaertment of Housing?

Very worrying for anybody living in a council house. That's two of the worst Tory MP's right there.

Theresa May is running a government like a hungover person running a children's party - just doing whatever it takes to make the loud ones be quiet for a bit.

[T_i_B]

6. Meanwhile, on the Labour front bench...

...I suspect that a lot of people will be glad to see Chris Williamson leaving the Labour front bench

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42664920

A Labour MP has denied being sacked from the front bench for suggesting council tax for expensive homes in England should be doubled.

Chris Williamson, who resigned as shadow fire minister on Thursday, also told the BBC's Daily Politics Jeremy Corbyn remained "a very close friend".

Some Labour MPs suggested Mr Corbyn had fired him over the comments, which he had stressed were not party policy.

Labour's announcement on Thursday that he had left the party's front bench did not give any reasons for his departure. But some Labour MPs linked it to his comments the day before, in which he suggesting doubling council tax on the highest value homes in England could help councils ease budgetary pressures.