From The Financial Times

Reaction to David Cameron’s first reshuffle has been swift. FT reporters round-up comments from health professionals, the media industry, transport campaigners and politicians in Northern Ireland to the new political appointments.

The decision to remove Andrew Lansley as health secretary, replacing him with Jeremy Hunt, was greeted by the British Medical Association as a chance to build bridges after a period in which the medical profession’s opposition to his contentious NHS reforms have left relations between the two at rock bottom.

Mark Porter, who chairs the BMA’s ruling council, said it provided “a fresh opportunity for doctors and government to work together to improve patient care and deal with the many challenges facing the NHS.” Dr Porter said “worsening financial pressures” were “having an adverse impact on many patient services including waiting times and the availability of some treatments”.

Mike Farrar, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, an umbrella body, said “the long-term sustainability of the NHS” needed to be Mr Hunt’s top priority. He added: “The NHS reforms are important, but we must keep our eye on the long-term issues the NHS is facing – an ageing population, and growing rates of obesity. Driving change in these areas will be the big test of the success of this government.”

There was surprise that Maria Miller was handed the role of culture secretary given wide-ranging challenges such as post-Leveson media policy, Olympic legacy and the stalling digital economy as well as the dual role of minister for women and equalities.

There were questions, in particular, over her experience in the technology and telecoms industries, which are key to rolling out government ambitions for superfast broadband to foster digital business growth.

Ms Miller, a junior minister in the Department for Work and Pensions, will be in the public eye almost immediately in dealing with the final report of the Leveson inquiry while also steering the Olympic legacy decisions, and in the longer term will need to deal with a vocal arts sector critical of public spending cuts.

Media groups can at least look forward to talking to someone who will know their old haunts as a former advertising executive, even if her most famous TV appearance has so far been in a Tory political broadcast in 2000 passing as a critical common punter – not as a Tory voter (and future MP).

The removal of Justine Greening at the department for transport was widely seen as paving the way for an expansion of Heathrow, which she campaigned against, partly because of the effects on her West London constituency.

Even Boris Johnson, the Conservative Mayor of London, saw it is as a sign that plans for a third runway could return under Patrick McLoughlin, the new transport secretary. The mayor called it “simply mad” and vowed to campaign against it.

Heathrow residents campaing group HACAN said it was “all-change big time” at the department. “The aviation industry will be popping open the champagne as two independent-minded ministers have gone. There will be fury in West London and beyond at the moving of Justine Greening,” said John Steward, chair of HACAN.

But he said Mr McLouglin also had a record of opposing a third runaway so he did not expect a decision this side of the election.

The Board of Airline Representatives welcomed Mr McLouglin’s appointment, which it said would provide the “necessary momentum” to develop aviation policy and end the delays of the last few years.

Campaigners welcomed the appointment of Justine Greening at the department for international development, saying she had a strong committment to the environment, which they said was shown by her opposition to a third runway at Heathrow.

Deborah Doane, director of World Development movement, an anti-poverty group, said under Andrew Mitchell, UK aid policy took an “alarming turn” towards promoting the interests of business over the poor. She challenged Ms Greening to change direction.

Business and political leaders have urged the new secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, to support their campaign to devolve the power to set corporation tax to the province amid signs of opposition from the Treasury.

Her predecessor, Owen Paterson, was a strong advocate of allowing the Northern Ireland executive to cut its corporation tax to help the region compete with Ireland’s ultra low 12.5 per cent rate and to help to rebalance an economy hit by 30 years of conflict.

His departure, which comes shortly before the Treasury is due to publish its analysis on the feasibility of the policy, has heightened fears Westminister has gone cold on the idea.

“Players may change but the game remains the same. We thank Owen Patterson for his undoubted contribution to the corporation tax debate,” said Ian Coulter, chairman of CBI Northern Ireland.

“This change should not however detract from this important debate. We look forward to working with the new secretary of state for northern Ireland in securing a lower corporation tax for Northern Ireland,” he added.

Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt welcomed the appointment and asked Ms Villiers to “clarify whether she will be supportive of the devolution of the powers to vary corporation tax to Northern Ireland as Owen Paterson was”.

Ms Villiers takes over at a difficult time in Northern Ireland following two nights of sectarian rioting in Belfast sparked by controversy over parades.

Mr Paterson has been named as the UK’s new environment and farming minister.

Pro-choice groups criticised the appointment of Maria Miller as minister for women and equalities after she voted for legislation which would have allowed anti-abortion groups to counsel women on their pregnancy options.

Abortion Rights also said they were “alarmed” at the appointment of Jeremy Hunt at the department of health as he voted to cut the abortion time limit to 12 weeks.

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The new cabinet:

Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service – David Cameron

Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council – Nick Clegg

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs – William Hague

Chancellor of the Exchequer – George Osborne

Chief Secretary to the Treasury – Danny Alexander

Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State for Justice – Chris Grayling

Secretary of State for the Home Department – Theresa May

Secretary of State for Defence – Philip Hammond

Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills – Vince Cable

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions – Iain Duncan Smith

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change – Edward Davey

Secretary of State for Health – Jeremy Hunt

Secretary of State for Education – Michael Gove

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government – Eric Pickles

Secretary of State for Transport – Patrick McLoughlin

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Owen Paterson

Secretary of State for International Development – Justine Greening

Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport; and Minister for Women and Equalities – Maria Miller

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – Theresa Villiers

Secretary of State for Scotland – Michael Moore

Secretary of State for Wales – David Jones

Minister without Portfolio – Ken Clarke

Minister without Portfolio – Grant Shapps

Leader of the House of Lords, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster – Lord Strathclyde

Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Privy Seal – Andrew Lansley

Minister for the Cabinet Office, Paymaster General – Francis Maude

Attorney General – Dominic Grieve

Chief Whip (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury) – Andrew Mitchell

NOTE: Under Secretary of State: Henry Bellingham lost his job. The position has now been given to Mark Simmonds, (Tory member for Boston and Skegness) former Shadow Health Minister