Environment secretary Owen Paterson is tipped for replacement in the cabinet reshuffle scheduled for this evening. The re-shuffle is expected to address the lack of diversity in the top ranks of the current government.

In the run-up to the reshuffle, environment campaigners staged protests at Defra headquarters and called for the replacement of the Secretary of State, whose ambiguous views on climate science have made him unpopular with many.

Although Paterson has a number of supporters on the Tory right, his zealous support for genetically modified crops, handling of this year's winter floods and pursuit of the badger cull have made him unpopular with many.

David Cameron is expected to promote younger ministers and address the gender imbalance in his cabinet ahead of the general election next year.  

However, Labour politicians have suggested that, after four years in government, the reshuffle could be too little, too late to dispel suggestions that Cameron "has a blind spot when it comes to women" and that any demographic change in the Prime Minister's front bench will appear to be a last minute appeal for votes.  

Shadow Environment Secretary Angela Eagle said on Monday, "If David Cameron was serious about female representation he would have taken action before now. Instead we have had four years of a Government which has let women down."

The reshuffle coincides with the publication of a report by the All Party Group for Women, which makes a series of recommendations, including taking a zero tolerance approach to rudeness and unprofessional behaviour in Parliament.