A cabinet reshuffle is a change in the promotion or demotion of ministers, and/or a relocation of ministerial portfolios. These reshuffles typically occur following battles in cabinet or a loss of popularity in opinion polls. They are often triggered by political scandals and can be used by prime ministers to impose their agenda on departments.
In the political science literature, a cabinet reshuffle has been interpreted as an instrument of principal-agent control. It allows the principal to sanction agency loss or ministerial drift, and can signal a policy shift (Lynne and Shepsle 1992). Furthermore, moving ministers around can be a way of redefining departmental priorities and competences.
However, the extent to which a reshuffle can achieve its own self-set strategic goals is unclear. In general, the cabinet is a highly politicised arena where the principal’s room for manoeuvre and monitoring capacity are limited.
Even if a reshuffle is motivated by a desire to change direction, it is unlikely to lead to the desired outcome. For example, the removal of a minister can provoke resistance from backbench MPs, who will see this as a sign of weakness by the PM. It is also possible that the reshuffle will cause confusion amongst the public, and this can be counter-productive.
As a result, the use of reshuffles as an instrument of political control should be cautiously assessed. In particular, it is important to remember that reshuffles may have significant policy implications for sectors that rely on direct departmental guidance (e.g., education and health).