Minister already at home in Downing Street

Gamely removing her coat at the request of photographers and hanging it on a railing outside 10 Downing Street, Baroness Warsi, of Dewsbury, braved the chill morning air to reveal a pink and purple shalwar kameez – in sharp contrast to the pinstriped traditions of her predecessors.

Baroness Warsi has made history in becoming the first female Muslim Cabinet minister – taking on the role of Conservative Party chairman.

She said: "To be born as the daughter of an immigrant mill worker in a mill town in Yorkshire, to have the privilege of serving in Cabinet at such an important time in Britain's history, I think it is terribly humbling.

"I hope I'm there on merit. I think there are lots of parts that make me as a person in terms of my identity, my Yorkshire roots, my Asian origins, my Muslim faith, and although I don't think that any one of them should be highlighted, if it sends out a message and if my appointment sends out a message to other people of different faiths and different backgrounds and different ethnic origins that actually you can do this as well, then that I think is a good thing.

"But I hope it doesn't become my defining feature."

She said she had hoped there would be more women in the Cabinet.

She said: "It would have more of my many, many talented female colleagues sat around that table, but the reality is that we didn't win a majority at the last election, we are a coalition Government and with a coalition Government and coalition Cabinet comes compromises.

"I think that's probably been one of the compromises we have had to make."