Today's letter from the Editor
Today's Matrices

i Editor's Letter: So much to be said

 

There's a school of thought that you, the reading public, do not care about the reshuffle. We have all seen the "re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic" jibes every time one happens. i has deliberately avoided the endless speculation, partly not to bore you, but mostly until we actually had something firm to report on. But, as we have led with it twice now, we obviously think it does matter, even if the big three jobs were left untouched.

That's not really true is it? Much as Ken Clarke wanted to stay at Justice, giving it to Chris Grayling is an easy sop to the Tory right, the reshuffle's winner. But Clarke, the Cabinet Tory with crossover appeal, landing without portfolio at HM Treasury to bolster George Osborne is as much an admission as possible that new thinking is needed there, given that it would be politically disastrous for the PM to have moved the Chancellor.

Are the changes cosmetic? It is significant that Justine Greening was moved from Transport just as the third runway at Heathrow that she opposes looms large. You don't believe me? See Boris's reaction. It matters too that Andrew Lansley was punished for failing to articulate radical NHS reforms of which he is part architect.

And Jeremy Hunt getting the big promotion to Health? Clearly the PM wants his allies around him, but this also reveals the Leveson report will surely not prove fatal to the former Culture Secretary over his News International links.

There is much more to be said: how little the PM cares what the Lib Dems think; what a bad day for women and diversity it was – but not here, go to independent.co.uk for more analysis. So, that's what I think, what do you think?

Career Services

Day In a Page

James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

The man who's eaten everywhere

Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

Eat Spam and carry on

Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

Facial hair

Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats
Giro d'Italia: The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

As the Giro d'Italia tackles the brutal climb, Simon Usborne takes on the snow and switchbacks – and soon realises what the fuss is about
National archives: Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Newly unearthed papers reveal a shocking extra dimension to the constitutional crisis over monarch’s abdication
Sent down at the Old Bailey: A tour of the world's most famous court

Sent down at the Old Bailey

A tour of the world's most famous court
Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

The Hangover actor Zach Galifianakis’s date for his movie premieres isn’t arm candy  – it’s his 87-year-old friend who he saved from homelessness
British football scores an own goal

British football scores an own goal

Many managers barely survive a year in post. Martin Baker talks to experts who make a case for clubs using forensic business skills to find the best staff
James Lawton: Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again

James Lawton

Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again