David Cameron rewards EU referendum MP but female promotions appear to tail off
David Cameron has spent the morning before his first cabinet meeting making his junior appointments.
Among them are rewards for James Wharton, the MP behind the private members’ bill paving the way for a referendum on our EU membership which was eventually killed off in the lords. He will be the new Northern Powerhouse minister.
Caroline Dinenage is the under secretary of state at the minister of justice and will also work with Nicky Morgan as the minister for equalities at the DfE. Nicky Morgan, the Education Secretary’s previous opposition to gay marriage has meant that she has not held the equalities role her predecessor held.
She is the only woman to be handed a role this morning, despite a day of high profile appointments for women yesterday.
A veterans minister in Mark Lancaster is also appointed.
Other appointments include:
John Penrose a Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office Damian Hinds is to be Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Mark Lancaster is Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans Caroline Dinenage is the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice. She is also Minister for Equalities at DfE Ben Wallace is the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office Andrew Jones is the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport James Wharton is the new Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Northern Powerhouse) Ben Wallace is the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office Rory Stewart is to be Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at DEFRA Justin Tomlinson is to be Minister for Disabled People at the Department for Work and Pensions. Damian Hinds is to be Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury