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Hodge rejoins Cabinet after husband's death
22.09.09
Margaret Hodge rejoined the Government ranks today, resuming her position as Culture and Tourism Minister after a period of compassionate leave.
The MP for Barking stepped down almost a year ago to look after her seriously ill husband, Sir Henry Hodge, who died in June.
Barbara Follett, who stepped into the role, has been moved into a junior ministerial role at the Department for Communities and Local Government.
She fills the vacancy left by the departure of Sarah McCarthy-Fry, who moved to the Treasury in June following the resignation of Kitty Ussher.
Downing Street is yet to announce who will fill the vacancies left by the decision of a number of ministers appointed from among outside experts to quit.
All but one of Gordon Brown's "goats" - named after the Prime Minister's stated aim to form a "government of all the talents" - have departed.
Reader views (5)
Re ex-pat David, Sir Julian Hodge was indeed known as the 'usurer of the valleys', but he was no relation of Margaret Hodge, and he was a strong opponent of the Labour government policy of creating the Welsh Assembly. Margaret Hodge's husband was Sir <b>Henry</b> Hodge who was a High Court Judge. Perhaps you ought to have read the article.
- David Boothroyd, London, UK
Let's not forget that Sir Julian Hodge was known as "The Usurer of the Valleys". This family's wealth was gained at the expense of hard working Welsh men and women who suffered rip-off interest rates. Tainted money, tainted family, tainted ideologies. Out of touch with the realities of life in Broken Britain. Get these Shonks out of power NOW!
- Ex-Pat David, Cape Town, South Africa
Oy! This is the woman that declared Queen's hospital as being a fine example of the borough's architecture...she was talking about her borough, Barking. Queens hospital (which is horrid, by the way) is in Romford, which, of course, is in Havering.
- Escobar Alop-Lop, Camden County
Margaret Hodge was given the job as the first ever Children's Minister!
Tony Blair put her in that position obviously not being aware or even worse not giving a care for the many children who were victims of the Islington Care Homes Scandal.
What an insult to all the children who have been and are being abused and all those who are involved with child protection, in practice.
Tony Blair proved that he was totally out of touch with reality and public opinion on the day he appointed Ms Hodge as The First Ever Minister for Children!
- Darnthesafetynet, London
Now I know Gordon Brown has lost all grip on his sanity, taking this woman back on as a Minister, he might just as well have given the job to one of the teletubbies, in fact that would probably have been a safer bet.
Has he not learned anything about this womans history at all, does he not realise that she is an accident waiting to happen. She brings so much baggage with her it is hard to credit that any PM would be so daft as to do this. Never mind that she is a very close friend to Harriet Harperson who is walking close behind Gordon with a handful of knives to thrust in his back.
- Jennie, East London
