Meridian David Cameron

The new Minister for Portsmouth is M Hancock.

No, it's not a dramatic comeback by the disgraced independent MP for Portsmouth South Mike Hancock - it's the Tory minister Matthew Hancock.

It's proof though the "Hancock influence" in Portsmouth politics - diminished when Mike and his wife lost their council seats in May - will live on, at least until the next election.

Outgoing Education secretary Michael Gove had "lost the support of the profession and parents", the National Union of Teachers has said.

"His pursuit of the unnecessary and often unwanted free schools and academies programme, the use of unqualified teachers, the failure to address the school place crisis and endless ill-thought out reforms to examinations and the curriculum have been his hallmark in office," the group said.

“Michael Gove’s search for headlines over speaking to the profession has clearly angered teachers. We remain in dispute over the direction of Government policy, which we believe is undermining the education service."

“We will be seeking a very early meeting with Nicky Morgan, the incoming Education Secretary, and we look forward to not only a new personality but a more conciliatory approach, one that demonstrates an improvement in policy for children, teachers and young people.”

Michael Fallon, the MP for Sevenoaks, has a government department to run - at last.

He has long been regarded as the safest pair of hands in Westminster.

When the government was in trouble, they always "sent for Fallon".

Mr Cameron made him a minister in the Business Department partly, it's been suggested, to "keep an eye on" Vince Cable.

He was also made Minister for Portsmouth when shipbuilding ended there.

He will still be a regular visitor to the city in his new role as Defence Secretary.

Unions embroiled in pay disputes with the Government have played down the impact of the Cabinet reshuffle on policies they believe hinder the rights and pay interests of workers.

Read: Latest news on Cabinet reshuffle

This is the boldest, biggest reshuffle I can remember. The scale of it has taken everyone by surprise. Brave? Or reckless?

William Hague's "demotion" seems to have been voluntary. Surrey Heath's Michael Gove's "demotion" certainly wasn't. He has paid the price for annoying his senior colleagues once too often, but will be an unusual Chief Whip. They are usually pretty silent in public: he won't be.

As always the reshuffle claims victims, many of whom are blameless. David Willetts, the Havant MP, has impressed many as Universities Minister after the initial shock of the tuition fees increase.

Ashford's Damian Green was a popular police minister. Faversham and Mid Kent's Hugh Robertson was one of the best sports ministers, and recently has impressed at the Foreign Office.

None of them is likely to cause trouble from the backbenches for Mr Cameron - some of the others who've been disappointed won't go so quietly.