David Cameron cabinet reshuffle: It's time to promote some 'rebellious women' - you need them You promised a few years back that a third of ministerial jobs would go to women by the end of your first term. You appear confident you'll meet that promise. That's great, but now you need to make sure it's the right women being promoted. And the word emerging from the whip's office doesn't fill me with confidence. MPs who say what they think, rather than what the boss wants to hear, appear to be in danger of being overlooked. Don't get me wrong: ultraloyal MPs like Margot James, Claire Perry, Amber Rudd and Mary Macleod would, I'm sure, make great ministers. And yes, dogged loyalty and an ability to keep your head down can be crucial qualities in a politician, as Theresa May has demonstrated. But surely you have the confidence to allow some bigger personalities into the fold too? Always in the past you've been too anxious about maintaining order over your rebellious parliamentary party to be seen to be rewarding those who have put a foot out of line. But now that the polls are looking better and the economy appears to be on the up, it seems to me you've got the authority you need to take a risk with the odd appointment. Barack Obama once said he, like Lincoln, wanted to appoint a "team of rivals." You should too. Not everyone agrees with their politics, but Priti Patel (pictured) and Andrea Leadsom are two backbenchers who are independent-minded, intellectually interesting and great communicators to boot. But I hear the whips think they're too rebellious by half to join your team. I'm told Andrea's been informed she's "politically naive" - and that she sealed her own fate when she once asked your chum the chancellor to apologise to Ed Balls during the row over the Libor scandal. OK that was a misjudgement, but to write her off as a result seems petty to say the least. If you don't promote a few strong, interesting women like Andrea and Priti, the risk is you're creating "jobs for the girls" - women who are only there by dint of their gender. And that will do you and women from across the political spectrum a great disservice. Look at Maria Miller for example. I spoke to one MP who likened her to "bland cheddar." Let's have some Pont L'Eveque and Stilton on the menu too. Making some brave choices will scotch the notion you run a chumocracy - a government that's all about patronage not merit. And it will also stop the overlooked blokes from feeling unduly bitter too. The last time you reshuffled your government you left two female cabinet ministers in tears. I know how you like to bring everyone sunshine. So please put a smile on everyone's faces and get it right this time. Best wishes - and good luck! Cathy Cathy Newman Presenter, Channel 4 News