The government reshuffle earlier this month saw Geoff Hoon return to the post of Minister for Europe. He has held the job before, for three months in 1999, since which he has been Secretary of State for Defence and Leader of the House of Commons. He also spent 10 years as an MEP and played a major role in the debates ratifying the Maastricht treaty, so he is certainly well-qualified.
Maybe it’s not so exciting, going back to a job in government you have already held. But in the seven years that have passed since then, much has changed. To be Europe minister today is a very different challenge.
I wrote a longer article on this subject for the European Movement, which you can read here: 060516 Welcome back Geoff Hoon