Deep Cuts - the 2010 Coalition Government Quiz

Answer: George Osborne

Osborne had been Shadow Chancellor since 2005, while the Labour party had been in power and was given the role in Prime Minister David Cameron's first cabinet. As the man responsible for setting the budget, Osborne was blamed for many of the spending reductions.

His situation was not helped as he was born into an aristocratic family and is heir to the Osborne baronetcy. He was originally named Gideon, but changed his name to George in his early teens.

Answer: Philip

Philip Hammond was elected as the Member of Parliament for Runnymede and Weybridge, in Surrey, in 1997. He became the Transport Secretary in Cameron's first cabinet, before being moved to the role of Secretary of State for Defence in October 2011. In January 2012 his ministry announced a reduction of thousands of personnel in Britain's armed forces.

Richard Hammond was one of the presenters on the television programme 'Top Gear' and would have made an interesting choice of Transport Secretary. Albert Hammond was a singer/songwriter and Walter 'Wally' Hammond was an English cricketer.

Answer: Education

Education always seems to be subject to numerous changes, depending on which party is in power, and the Coalition Government has been no different. Gove announced various changes to the plans made by the previous, Labour Party, and cancelled the building of several new schools. Before entering Parliament, Michael Gove worked as a journalist - one of only a few politicians to have earned a living outside the political world.

Answer: Perverting the course of justice

Huhne was one of the Liberal Democrats appointed to the Cabinet. He had stood against Nick Clegg for the position of leader of the party in 2007, and lost by a narrow margin. In 2012 Huhne was charged with perverting the course of justice by persuading his then wife, Vicky Pryce, to say she was the driver of a speeding car which he had actually been driving.

After protesting his innocence, Huhne eventually pleaded guilty and was imprisoned for eight months. His former wife suffered the same penalty. Huhne stood down as a Member of Parliament prior to beginning his prison sentence.

Answer: William Hague

William Hague was the leader of the Conservative Party from 1997 until 2001, when he was succeeded by Iain Duncan Smith, who lasted for only two years. Duncan Smith was given the position of Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with responsibility for reducing the amount spent on welfare benefits. Hague was given the honorary title of First Secretary of State as well as being the Foreign Secretary.

The foreign aid budget is one of the few not to have been greatly reduced in the early years of the Coalition government.

Answer: Scotland

Fox was born in East Kilbride, in Scotland, and became the Conservative Member of Parliament for Woodspring, now known as North Somerset, in 1992, having previously failed to be elected for the Scottish seat of Roxburgh and Berwickshire in 1987. (Scotland, of course, is not known for its love of the Conservative party). Fox was forced to resign from his position of Defence Secretary in October 2011 when it became known that he had allowed a close friend to attend numerous official government meetings without being properly accredited.

He did not resign his seat in Parliament.

Answer: Cable

Dr. Vince Cable became the Member of Parliament for Twickenham in 1997 and was one of the best known Liberal Democrat members to be given a position in government. He became the Deputy Leader of the Party, led by Nick Clegg, in 2006 but resigned from this post when he was appointed to the Cabinet. Cable established a reputation for financial awareness by raising the likely problems of the levels of debt in 2003, long before the financial crisis which began in 2007.

Answer: Plebgate

Mitchell was appointed as the Chief Whip only in September 2012, having previously held the position of Secretary of State for International Development. On 19 September, Mitchell asked the police to open the main gates to Downing Street to allow him to ride his bicycle through. On being told to use the pedestrian gate, Mitchell was alleged to have sworn at the police, and called them by the derogatory name of 'plebs'.

Although denying he had used the expression, Mitchell resigned a month later. Subsequent investigation revealed that the police may have embellished their account of the incident and other events (i.e. lied), although Mitchell had still not been recalled to government a year later.

Answer: Danny Alexander

Danny Alexander was the second appointment to the post. The first man chosen was David Laws, who lasted only just over two weeks before having to resign over irregularities in his expenses claims. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury is second in command to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with responsibility for agreeing finance budgets with the various departments of state. All the MPs listed represented the Liberal Democrats in 2010, although only Charles Kennedy could also be described as a redhead.

Answer: Theresa May

Theresa May was also given the role of Minister for Women and Equality, although she is best known for being Home Secretary. She became the Member of Parliament for Maidenhead, in Kent, in 1997 and held several positions in the Shadow Cabinet when the Conservatives were in opposition. Among her first actions as Home Secretary were the abolishment of the proposed identity card and a reduction in surveillance, although it feels as if Big Brother is still with us. Justine Greening became the Coalition's second Secretary of State for Transport in 2011 and Caroline Spelman held the position of Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs between 2010 and 2012. Jo Swinson has held various junior ministerial roles, but was not part of the 2010 Cabinet.