What The National Papers Say About David
Ruffley is big winner in reshuffle
Graham Dines, East Anglian Daily Times, 14 December 2005
CONSERVATIVE leader David Cameron has completed his team of shadow spokesmen, promoting a number of East Anglian MPs to key roles as the party overhauls its policies in an effort to win the next General Election.
The big winner is David Ruffley, MP for Bury St Edmunds since 1997, who becomes number two in the works and pensions team headed by Shadow Secretary of State Philip Hammond.
Mr Cameron has made it clear that he wants to lead a “compassionate Conservative” party and welfare reform is seen as an integral part of this philosophy.
Mr Ruffley, who served as Treasury whip in Michael Howard's term as opposition leader, said: “We need policies which help those most in need without damaging the incentive to work.
“The Government wants to take an axe to certain benefits, but this will lead to real hardship. My task is to identify reforms which will deliver money to those who need it.”