Brown completes cabinet overhaul

Source: Exec Digital UK

Date :28/06/2007 12:27:43

Gordon Brown today carried out an overhual of the Labour cabinet, bringing in David Milliband as Home Secretary and Alistair Darling as Chancellor

Brown appointed Jacqui Smith as Britain’s first female home secretary and the 41-year old David Miliband as foreign secretary.

Political heavyweight Jack Straw becomes justice secretary and deputy prime minister while Alistair Darling was confirmed as Mr Brown’s successor at the Treasury.

Harriet Harman, the surprise winner in Labour’s deputy leadership contest was appointed Labour party chairman, and also enters the cabinet as leader of the Commons.

John Hutton, once one of Mr Brown’s most vocal critics, moves to a new department for business and enterprise, developed from the old Department for Trade and Industry. He will be replaced at work and pensions by Peter Hain, a shock survivor of the ministerial makeover.

Hillary Benn takes over the environment portfolio, and Alan Johnson moves across from education to health and has the task of smoothing down National Health service staff and Labour MPs disgruntled by the government’s market-based reforms.

Ruth Kelly moves from local government to the Department for Transport and James Purnell enjoys a promotion into the cabinet as culture secretary.

He will be asked to cast a watchful eye over the rising cost of the London 2012 Olympics.

Ed Balls, Mr Brown’s closest ally, is to enter the cabinet as secretary of state for children and schools after the old Department for Education and Skills was split in two.

June 28 2007