Barry Soper: Cabinet rejuvenation? More like stagnation

If you ever had any doubts about Bill English's conservatism, then they would have been confirmed with his "rejuvenated" Cabinet. Rather than rejuvenation it's more like stagnation, the deck chairs may have been rearranged to some extent but the same passengers are occupying them.

And it seems English hasn't learnt a lot from all his years in politics about embracing your enemies, even though he watched Helen Clark in the 90s promoting the plotters against her, he seems to have ignored the recipe for her success.

Judith Collins put her hand up for the leadership but it was slapped down and so has she been in the latest Cabinet lineup, losing her beloved police portfolio to Paula Bennett, but even more insultingly losing the troublesome Corrections job, that she handled pretty well, to Louise Upston who was tipped to be dumped from Cabinet given her absence as Women's Minister when there were issues around that she should have been commenting on. She's now got a seat at the table rather than being a minister on the outside looking in as she had been up until now.

If Sam Lotu-Iiga, who's moved on from Cabinet, was left savaged with the Corrections portfolio, Upston, given her performance or lack of it, will be dog tucker.

And if Bill English doesn't have a pack of sniffer dogs out, he'll miss the trouble that Collins could now cause. She's been given the portfolio that no one beats a path to the door for, the one held by Peter Dunne for yonks, Revenue, along with energy and ethnic communities which at least will keep her out of the limelight.

The other to put up his hand for the leadership Jonathan Coleman, who was gaining ground before he was quietly leaned on, has retained health but with a nudge nudge, wink wink for Foreign Affairs once Murray McCully finally shuffles on in May.

Simon Bridges brief run for the deputy's job, before he was persuaded that Paula was their preference, has been rewarded with a seat on the frontbench which to the great unwashed is neither here nor there.

The only one publicly sacked by English is Jo Goodhew which given her profile no one will notice. The biggest promotion is for the first Cook Islander to be elected to Parliament, Alfred Ngaro who's been catapulted from the backbench to the inner circle with a few minor ministries.

This is a dream team alright, not for Bill English but for Labour's Andrew Little!