DAVID Cameron cleared out his Cabinet disasters ~ Bukhari Webs

DAVID Cameron cleared out his Cabinet disasters yesterday — but only after a host of bitter behind-the-scenes bust-ups in his tumultuous first major reshuffle.

Soft justice chief Ken Clarke and controversial ex-Health Secretary Andrew Lansley topped the list of ousted flops.

The Tory faithful were also delighted by a raft of big promotions for leading right wingers over their moderate rivals.

Hardman Chris Grayling’s promotion into the Cabinet as the new Justice Secretary was particularly heralded.

The PM’s decisive action was designed to heal deep wounds with dozens of his own rebellious backbenchers — as well as stamp the Conservatives’ authority on their ever-more difficult Lib Dem partners.

But The Sun can reveal he also botched a series of other moves that left him scrabbling to save face. Among them:

WELFARE boss Iain Duncan Smith refused a move to Justice Secretary, insisting he wanted to finish his work revolution.

OUSTED Tory Party Chairman Baroness Warsi resigned from the Government in anger, only for the PM to beg her to return with a far more powerful role than he originally offered her.

HARD-WORKING Police Minister Nick Herbert stormed out of the Government completely, livid at missing out on a Cabinet promotion yet again.

HIS old Oxford Uni mate Lord Feldman was furious to lose the Tory co-chairman title to give new boss Grant Shapps sole billing, and insisted it be hastily reinstated.

The other big winner from more than 24 hours of drama in Westminster was Jeremy Hunt, the new Health Secretary.

Bungling Caroline Spelman was axed as Environment Secretary — replaced by right-winger and climate change sceptic Owen Paterson. Anonymous Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillam was also dumped.

In the day’s biggest drama, popular Sayeeda Warsi — the Cabinet’s first female Muslim — turned down the role of Commonwealth Minister along with the equalities brief.

Friends of the punchy northerner branded it a job “so tokenistic it was ridiculous”.

The 41-year-old peer left London for her home in Yorkshire first thing yesterday — leaving the PM unable to see her and plunging No10 into dismay at losing a key communicator.

A beefed-up job as William Hague’s deputy at the Foreign Office was swiftly cooked up for her instead, and she was also tempted back with the dual role of faith and communities minister at the Local Government department.

Veteran Mr Clarke took his demotion on the chin by slipping off to watch cricket.

The 72-year-old was reduced to Minister without Portfolio — meaning he can attend Cabinet as a wise head, but not as a full member. He will also sit on the Cabinet’s key economic committee and National Security Council.

Trying to put on a brave face, Ken insisted he had not been humiliated, saying: “Being offered a job in the Cabinet at my age? Don’t be daft.”

Tory MP Philip Davies said: “This is a great victory for The Sun campaign to get rid of Ken Clarke. I’m confident Chris Grayling will ditch Ken’s soft justice policies.”

Friends of Mr Lansley said he was convinced he would stay on at Health after surviving the furore over NHS reforms and was stunned by his dramatic demotion.

The PM continued making appointments lower down Government late into last night.

His “big beasts” all kept their jobs, with no attempt to change his Chancellor, Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, Defence Secretary and Education Secretary.

But there were 13 moves among the 31 ministers who will now sit round the Cabinet table — up from 29. Middle and lower ranks of Government are also getting a hefty shake-up, with a raft of Tory old-timers booted out of office. The final new ministers’ names will be announced this morning before the new Cabinet meets this afternoon.