Who is David Lidington? Theresa May appoints new Cabinet Minister in reshuffle
DAVID Lidington has been appointed Minister for the Cabinet Office as the Prime Minister launches a sweeping cabinet reshuffle. But who is David Lidington?
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It was originally rumoured that Theresa May was lining up Mr Lidington, the current Justice Secretary, as First Secretary of State - a role recently vacated by the disgraced Damian Green.
Latest reports now suggest that Mr Lidington will stand in for Theresa May at Prime Minister’s Questions in her absence and that there will be no Secretary of State at all.
The Aylesbury MP has largely flown under the radar during his political career, though he was thrust into the spotlight in 2016 when Mrs May made him Leader of the House of Commons.
He was then moved to Justice Secretary in the wake of the Conservative’s calamitous 2017 general election campaign.
Here is everything you need to know about Mr Lidington as he prepares to become Mrs May’s Cabinet Minister.
Read more: CABINET RESHUFFLE LIVE UPDATES
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Who is David Lidington?
Born 1956, Mr Lidington attended Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School in Elstree, Hertfordshire, before graduating from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge with a degree in a history and a PhD.
While at university Mr Lidington captained Sidney Sussex to victory on the prestigious BBC quiz show: University Challenge.
He entered the political fray during the 1987 general election, where he stood unsuccessfully in Vauxhall.
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Bouncing back, Mr Lidington won the Tory safe seat of Aylesbury in the 1992 general election, where he has remained the MP ever since.
As well as Justice Secretary, he has held a number of cabinet positions during his career.
These include: Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, Minister of State for Europe and Leader of the House of Commons.
Mr Lidington caused controversy in 2009, when he was embroiled in the notorious expenses scandal.
A Daily Telegraph report at the time revealed how he claimed nearly £1,300 for cleaning services and toiletries.
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Mr Lidington defended his actions, though admitted some of the claims could be seen as “over-generous”.
He said in 2009: “These were reasonable claims for laundry and are within the rules. I do not have a washing machine in my flat.
“I accept that many people would see them as over-generous, that is why I paid back the money I claimed for toiletries 10 days ago.”
Mr Lidington tends to tow the Conservative party line, though he did vote against a wholly elected House of Lords, while most of his colleges voted against.
