Sack or save: a difficult task for leaders

WITH two years left in this Coalition’s term and months out from an expected treble by-election day, the Cabinet reshuffle will be designed to give a much-needed boost to the popularity of the Government parties, while maintaining stability.

It’s a difficult balancing act for any party leader: Sack too many and you create powerful enemies, as Albert Reynolds learnt in 1992.

But play it too safe by merely shuffling the same personnel around, like Brian Cowen did in March 2010, and you frustrate ambitious backbenchers, while failing to satisfy a public appetite for change.