An interesting chart from the Institute of Government. Note the Lib Dem cabinet positions control less than 10 per cent of departmental spending (excluding the all powerful David Laws, of course).
Not sure whether this is a blessing. Axing 25 per cent of spending from transport or the police is never a career enhancing move in politics. But Vince Cable and Danny Alexander face some particularly tough choices on Scotland and student fees, which have the potential to backfire horribly on the Lib Dems.
(Hat tip to Dan Pimlott from our economics team.)
UPDATE: The three women in the cabinet appear to control about 5 per cent of spending.
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey