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Putney MP is tipped for key role in Tory cabinet
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor14 Jul 2008
Two high-flying Tory women MPs are expected to be drafted into the shadow cabinet as David Cameron bids to build on his "feminist" credentials and sharpens up his team to face Gordon Brown.
Shadow families minister Maria Miller and shadow treasury minister Justine Greening are among those tipped by insiders for promotion when the Tory leader shakes up his frontbench with an injection of media-savvy performers in their late thirties and early forties.
Ms Greening, who at 39 is the youngest Tory woman in the Commons, is said to have impressed Mr Cameron with "Exocet" attacks on the Government's road tax plans. As MP for Putney she has also led the assault on MrBrown's plans for a third runway at Heathrow and is seen as the perfect shadow transport secretary. Theresa Villiers, who currently holds the post, could be axed or moved sideways. Comparedto William Hague, because she went to a state school in Rotherham, and Margaret Thatcher, because of her no-nonsense style, Ms Greening has outperformed many colleagues.
Mother-of-three Ms Miller has been responsible for much of the party's shift towards family-friendly policies.
Mr Cameron has already declared his "aspiration" to have a third of his entire government made up of female MPs. Just seven of his 31-strong shadow cabinet-and only 17 out of the party's 196 MPs, are women.
He is waiting anxiously on the fate of one of his most senior women in the shadow cabinet as the "nannygate" investigation continues into party chairman Caroline Spelman.
Even if she is cleared, many MPs expect her to be replaced as chairman by Eric Pickles, the brains behind the party's local elections triumphs and its victory in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election. Mr Pickles is a traditional northern figure but a poll of activists by ConservativeHome.com website found most favour him to replace Ms Spelman. His northern roots are seen as an asset as the party seeks to win back urban seats not held for more than 15 years.
Other high-flyers set for promotion are Greg Clarke, MP for Tunbridge Wells, and Ed Vaizey, MP for Wantage. Mr Clarke has won praise for his voluntary sector proposals recently. Mr Vaizey has long been one of the leading young modernisers around Mr Cameron and is seen as perfect for the job of shadow environment secretary.
A Tory source saidthe casualties in the reshuffle may include environment shadow Peter Ainsworth, shadow universities secretary David Willetts and shadow international development secretary Andrew Mitchell.
Some allies are suggesting Mr Cameronmay carry out his reshuffle as early as this week. Others believe he will wait for the Prime Minister to act first.
