DAVID Cameron quipped that this Government reshuffle would take longer than he thought because he did not realise how many posts he had to fill, senior and junior, due to the absence of all those Liberal Democrats.

This means this is the first Tory-only Cabinet for 18 years and would help create, what the Prime Minister, called a "Ministry of all the talents".

For the most part, it is a continuity reshuffle with all the main posts unchanged; more than half the Cabinet have kept their roles.

So George Osborne remains as Chancellor, Theresa May Home Secretary, Philip Hammond Foreign Secretary, Michael Fallon Defence Secretary, Nicky Morgan Education Secretary, Jeremy Hunt Health Secretary, and Iain Duncan Smith Work and Pensions Secretary.

Stung ever since he was accused of "having a problem with women", the Conservative leader has promoted more female ministers onto the frontline. So Amber Rudd jumps from a junior position to become Energy Secretary, replacing the departed Lib Dem Ed Davey.

Also, Priti Patel replaces Esther McVey, who lost her seat, as Employment Minister while Anna Soubry has been moved sideways from defence to business. Crucially though, both will attend Cabinet, giving it a more female face.

One interesting move is the appointment of John Whittingdale as Culture Secretary. The former Thatcher aide, who for many years chaired the Commons Culture Committee, is a stern critic of the BBC licence fee.

Another is Sajid Javid. The son of a shopowner, who migrated to Britain from Pakistan, takes over as Business Secretary from another defeated Lib Dem Vince Cable. He is regarded as an ally of Mr Osborne, so a closer relationship between the Treasury and the Business Department can be expected.

Given the success, again, of only one Scottish Conservative MP, it was a no-brainer for Mr Cameron to elevate David Mundell to the Scottish Secretaryship.

But unlike when the Coalition had 12 MPs to face the Nationalists, the new Government has just one; although the Dumfriesshire MP is due to get a junior minister appointed to the Scotland Office, who will probably be a Scot representing an English constituency.

One intriguing appointment is Boris Johnson. Not to the Cabinet as such but to the PM's Political Cabinet ie as an advisor on party not government business.

The new member for Uxbridge still has a year to go as London Mayor. But his appointment to the inner policy sanctum is a clear elevation, giving Mr Johnson a platform from which to launch a leadership bid if, as some suspect, Mr Cameron bails out after a successful or unsuccessful EU referendum in late 2017.