Lynne Featherstone takes Lib Dem Home Office job

Lynne Featherstone takes Lib Dem Home Office job

Lynne Featherstone is to replace Norman Baker as the Lib Dem minister in the Home Office, the party has said.

Mr Baker quit on Monday, saying he found it a "constant battle" working with Home Secretary Theresa May.

Ms Featherstone worked with Mrs May in the Home Office for two years and has been a minister for international development since 2012.

The home secretary said she was "delighted" with the appointment and said she wished Mr Baker well.

Mr Baker criticised the way Mrs May ran her department and accused the Conservatives of a "lurch to the right" after stepping down as minister for crime prevention.

Working in the Home Office was like "walking through mud" and a "constant battle", he said.

The Conservatives have disputed this and questioned Mr Baker's own performance in the job.

'Talented team'

However, both parties have insisted that the coalition will remain intact until the general election.

Mr Baker's departure has prompted a mini-reshuffle with Ms Featherstone returning to the department where she worked between 2010 and 2012.

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Norman Baker: "It was a constant battle to try to get things through"
Her job at international development has been taken by Baroness Northover. In other changes, two other MPs - Jenny Willott and Mark Hunter - have left their positions as government whips.

As a result of the changes:

Solihull MP Lorely Burt has been made an assistant government whip
Tom Brake MP, the deputy leader of the House of Commons, is now also an assistant government whip
Baroness Garden has been appointed as a government whip and government spokesperson in the House of Lords
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said he had a "first-rate ministerial team" at his disposal.

"The Liberal Democrats are extremely fortunate to have a large number of talented people on our benches ready to step into their shoes," he said.

"Lynne Featherstone has been an exceptional minister over the last four and a half years and returns to the Home Office, where her tough but liberal approach will be invaluable."