A cabinet reshuffle is when a prime minister moves ministers around in their government. It can be relatively minor – for example, when a minister resigns or is unable to continue serving in government due to illness – or it can be significant, with multiple ministerial changes and the creation of new departments and roles. The IfG’s Ministers Team hosted a discussion on the purpose and effectiveness of cabinet reshuffles, with Hilary Armstrong (former chief whip under Tony Blair), Ann Treneman (writer of The Times’ parliamentary sketch column) and Tim Montgomerie (founder of Conservative Home).
Hilary Armstrong began by arguing that, in a parliamentary system, where there is no separation of powers between the executive and legislature, a reshuffle is important for career decisions for MPs and an essential tool for party management. She argued that it is particularly important when a government’s popularity has declined, as it can help to refresh the cabinet and introduce new voices and ideas.
Other reasons for a reshuffle include signalling policy shifts, promoting high-performing ministers, and removing underperforming ones. Reshuffles can also be used to address political scandals, and to promote the image of a prime minister, by moving more popular and well-performing ministers to the front bench.
However, the IfG’s Ministers Team argued that frequent reshuffles can create the impression of an unstable and inefficient government, which can damage public confidence and harm policy delivery. A high turnover of ministers can make it difficult for them to develop the administrative and policy expertise necessary to oversee their departments and deliver meaningful change, and it can prevent parliament from holding them accountable for the policies they oversee.
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