General Election 2010: Axe could fall first on Osborne with Clarke tipped as Chancellor

Published on Friday 7 May 2010 23:14

SHADOW chancellor George Osborne could be the biggest loser from the failure of the Tories to win an outright majority, The Scotsman has learned.

Even before David Cameron made his appeal to the Liberal Democrats, there was speculation that the Conservative front bench would be reshuffled.

According to sources, Mr Cameron is considering a return to 11 Downing Street for Ken Clarke. The aim is to have a popular and well-respected figure making the tough decisions on spending cuts.

For some time now Mr Osborne has been seen an Achilles' heel. He was also in charge of the "failed" campaign and performed poorly in interviews.

In the event of coalition with the Lib Dems, the role of Chancellor could be offered to Vince Cable, although it is understood the Tories would much prefer he was No 2 to Mr Clarke.

Another probable casualty is shadow home secretary Chris Grayling – who is unpopular with the Cameroons, Mr Cameron's inner circle – and has been described as "a lone wolf" in the front-bench team.

Mr Grayling also made a gaffe early in the election when he supported hoteliers banning gay couples from their premises. The remark damaged the Tories modern image, so carefully cultivated by Mr Cameron.

A Grayling departure could mean a return for David Davis, the former shadow Home Secretary and leadership contender.

However, the Home Secretary job could be offered to Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, particularly if Mr Cable is not made Chancellor. William Hague seems likely to be Foreign Secretary.

A Con/Lib Dem coalition would also solve Mr Cameron's headache over the Scottish Secretary job with Lib Dems Danny Alexander, Michael Moore and Alistair Carmichael all contenders.

Mr Cameron is also keen to bring former leader Iain Duncan Smith into the Cabinet to start pushing through reforms to fix Britain's "broken society".

• Scottish results by constituency

General Election 2010: More news and analysis

• Tories offer a deal to Lib Dems

• If you are selling your soul, do it properly

• Scottish Labour hails divided Britain

• Conservatives blame Labour scare tactics – and Annabel Goldie

• Nationalists chide 'chippy, nippy' strategy

• Why did they rain on our parade, Lib Dems ask

• 'Victorian' voting system to be overhauled

• No Portillo Moment but big names ditched

• Legal challenges predicted amid reports of polling station chaos

• Nail-biting victory in capital typifies Labour's hold over Scotland

Analysis

• John McTernan: A race for power that left every runner gasping

• Eddie Barnes: Chances of victory thrown away

• Bill Jamieson: Scots No 1 conservatives (small c) in Britain

• John Curtice: Mould of the two-party system isn't broken yet, but a very large crack has appeared

• Gerry Hassan: Scotland is a different political beast with the Holyrood elections looming

• Brian Monteith: Tories must 'die' to rebuild

• Joyce McMillan: Forget the Doomsday scenario, here's the Caledonian Paradox

Economy

• Call for swift action on debt mountain as pound suffers

• Bank chief Stephen Hester seeks 'strong stewardship' of economy after election

• Borrowers and investors will pay for further unsettling delay

• Result no shock for mortgage lenders

In brief

• Pamela Nash, 25, becomes the Baby of the House

• BBC's election triumph as 17m viewers tune in

• Green makes history as party's first MP

• Blur drummer fails to be elected - again

• Tory Speaker's wife fails in bid to win seat for Labour

• Bitten but not bitter MP celebrates

• Cameron odds-on to be PM by June

• 14-year-old voter prompts inquiry

• Man arrested over ballot paper protest