British govt cabinet undergoes reshuffle

LONDON - British Prime Minister David Cameron reshuffled his cabinet on Tuesday to inject a "fighting spirit" into the ruling coalition and promote bright young ministers with a record of delivery, said a source from 10 Downing Street.

Cameron shifted culture minister Jeremy Hunt, who has battled calls to resign over his closeness to Rupert Murdoch's media empire, to the health ministry, replacing Andrew Lansley.

Lansley, the architect of controversial reforms to the NHS in England, has effectively been demoted to the more junior role of leader of the House of Commons.

Speaking outside No 10, Hunt said he was "incredibly honored" to take charge of health. "It is a huge task and the biggest privilege of my life," he told the BBC.

Many of the cabinet's top positions remained unchanged with Finance Minister George Osborne, Foreign Minister William Hague, Home Secretary Theresa May, Education Secretary Michael Gove, and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith keeping their jobs.

Transport minister Justine Greening, who was seen as blocking the expansion of London's Heathrow airport, was removed from her post to be replaced by former chief whip Patrick MCloughlin.

London Mayor Boris Johnson criticized the removal of Greening, and said: "There can be only one reason to move her - and that is to expand Heathrow Airport."

In a statement, the mayor said: "The third runway would mean more traffic, more noise, more pollution and a serious reduction in the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people.

Former army officer Andrew Mitchell went from being international development secretary to the government's enforcer for parliamentary business.

Those leaving the government in the shake-up include Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman, Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan and Commons leader Sir George Young.

Among other major promotions, Maria Miller and Theresa Villiers joined the cabinet as Culture Secretary and Northern Ireland Secretary and Housing Minister Grant Shapps became Tory Party co-chairman.