Cameron appoints two gay men to shadow Cabinet

By Tony Grew • July 2, 2007 - 18:05

Mr Herbert only became an MP in 2005 and is seen as a rising star.

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Nick Herbert, the MP for Arundel and South Downs and one of only a handful of openly gay Tory MPs, has been promoted to the shadow Cabinet by David Cameron as part of a reshuffle.

Mr Herbert only became an MP in 2005 and is seen as a rising star.

He lives in his constituency with his partner. He was the first ever out gay man elected as a Tory MP. He becomes shadow Secretary of State for Justice.

Fellow openly gay MP, Alan Duncan was reappointed to the shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

Francis Maude, who spoke exclusively to PinkNews.co.uk about the death of his brother from AIDS, has been moved from the key role of Party Chairman.

He is now shadows the Cabinet Office minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Ed Miliband.

Mr Maude said that the homophobic policies of the Thatcher government contributed to his brother's death, and that he regretted voting for Section 28.

He has been replaced by Caroline Spelman. She has been replaced by Eric Pickles as shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, but it is not known who will have responsibility for gay rights and equality issues.

Harriet Harman was named Minister for Women by Gordon Brown last week.

It is thought she may take responsibility for equality issues, including gay rights, as part of that brief, though that has yet to be confirmed by Downing St.

However, that would mean moving the Women and Equality Unit, headed by former Stonewall head Angela Mason, from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

David Cameron has appointed Dame Pauline Neville-Jones, a former Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee, as national security adviser.

David Willetts has lost the education brief after the rows over grammar schools - he becomes shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

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