Shadow cabinet shuffle sees Brentwood MP take over from Caroline Spelman

Eric Pickles has been promoted to shadow communities secretary as part of yesterday’s shadow Cabinet reshuffle by Conservative leader David Cameron.

The Brentwood MP and former Bradford council leader takes over from Caroline Spelman who has been switched to become party chairman.

Former housing spokesman Michael Gove has been promoted to Cameron’s top team in the newly created post of shadow secretary of state for children, schools and families.

Recently elected MP for Welwyn and Hatfield Grant Shapps takes over the housing portfolio and will, like his opposite number Yvette Cooper, attend the shadow Cabinet.

40 year old South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt takes over from Jeremy Swire as shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport following the latter’s gaffe over gallery and museum entry charges.

Alan Duncan retains responsibility for the construction industry as shadow secretary of state for business, enterprise and regulatory reform. The Rutland MP shadowed trade and industry until last week’s government revamp, which resulted in the department’s dismemberment.

Peter Ainsworth and Andrew Lansley remain secretaries of state for environment and health respectively. Former education secretary David Willetts has been demoted to the new post of shadow secretary of state for innovation, universities and skills.