Philip Hammond to be new UK foreign minister

LONDON (AP) — Defense Secretary Philip Hammond will become Britain's new foreign secretary as Prime Minister David Cameron shakes up his Cabinet ahead of an election next year.

Michael Fallon was named to the top defense post, moving up from being a junior minister dealing with energy, business and enterprise.

Controversial Education Secretary Michael Gove becomes Chief Whip, shaping the Conservative-led government's message on television and radio and will have a central role in the campaign, Cameron said Tuesday.

Cameron also removed a number of mid-level ministers in the most wide-ranging Cabinet changes since he took the helm of a coalition government in 2010.

More changes are expected, with Cameron expected to make the Cabinet younger and with more women.