News
New Jewish ministers and the Miliband rivalry
Grant Shapps and Oliver Letwin have ministerial posts, and the Milibands may battle for Labour leadership.
May 14, 2010 09:52
By, Jessica Elgot
1 min read
Grant Shapps and Oliver Letwin have ministerial posts, and the Milibands may battle for Labour leadership.
May 14, 2010 09:52ByJessica Elgot, Jessica Elgot
The one-time BBYO leader, Grant Shapps, has been appointed Housing Minister in David Cameron’s new government.
Mr Shapps, who represents Welwyn and Hatfield, is a former vice-chairman of the Conservative Party. He will be part of the Department for Communities and Local Government, headed by Eric Pickles.
Oliver Letwin, once Shadow Chancellor when Michael Howard led the party, has been made Minister of State for Policy, and will attend cabinet meetings when required.
On the Opposition benches, former Foreign Secretary David Miliband has announced his intention to run for Labour leader in a contest which could become a family affair.
His younger brother, Ed Miliband, former Energy and Climate Change Secretary, may also join him in the leadership race.
The Milibands are the sons of prominent Jewish Marxist historian Ralph Miliband, who was forced to flee his native Poland to Belgium and then London to escape the Nazi invasion.
Ed Miliband has apparently already warned his mother, Marion Kozak, that he may stand against his brother.
WHO ARE THE JEWISH MPS?
CONSERVATIVE
John Bercow
Jonathan Djanogly
Michael Ellis
Michael Fabricant
Robert Halfon
Richard Harrington
Oliver Letwin
Julian Lewis
Brooks Newmark
Sir Malcolm Rifkind
Lee Scott
Grant Shapps
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
Lynne Featherstone
Julian Huppert
LABOUR
David Miliband
Ed Miliband
Luciana Berger
Louise Ellman
Ivan Lewis
Fabian Hamilton
Margaret Hodge
Sir Gerald Kaufman
David Winnick