If you want to restore Cabinet government, you have to reduce the size of the Cabinet

In the politics column this week, I write about how the Tories plan to hand over many of the traditional policy making powers of the Cabinet to a seven man policy board. The Cameroons are going to do this partly because it is a model that has worked well for them in oppoistion and that they are comfortable with but also because the Cabinet is just too large for effective, detailed discussions about policy.

The shadow Cabinet currently has 34 members in it. In government, this number will have to drop by at least ten. But still, a 24 person group is, probably, too large to foster constructive and detailed debate.

However, if the Cabinet was smaller, then it would be easier to restore it to its traditional role without sacrificing effectiveness. One Cameron aide told me recentlty that 15 was probably the ideal size for the Cabinet and would make it possible to bring back Cabinet government.