Government reshuffle in full
Thursday afternoon saw the completion of Tony Blair’s reshuffle, with a number of junior Ministers exchanging positions, after the Cabinet changes announced on Wednesday.
The changes made to the Government in full are as follows:
Alan Milburn returned to the Government on Wednesday as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, based in the Cabinet Office. This post was formerly held by Gordon Brown’s protégé, Douglas Alexander. His job as Minister for the Cabinet Office went to the former Financial Secretary to the Treasury Ruth Kelly on Thursday. She will work with Mr Milburn on election strategy.
Mr Alexander and Ms Kelly form part of a chain of Ministerial portfolio swaps announced on Thursday afternoon.
Energy Minister Stephen Timms returns to the Treasury to fill Ms Kelly’s former role, while Mike O’Brien moves to the DTI to take Mr Timms’ old job. Mr Alexander, meanwhile, succeeds Mr O’Brien as Minister of State at the Foreign Office and the DTI.
Alan Johnson entered the Cabinet on Wednesday, replacing Andrew Smith, who resigned as Work and Pensions Secretary on Monday.
Mr Johnson’s post of Higher Education and Lifelong Learning Minister was taken by the outspoken Transport Minister Kim Howells.
In turn, Dr Howells was replaced by junior Transport Minister Tony McNulty, and Charlotte Atkins replaces Mr McNulty as Under Secretary. She also remains a Government Whip.
Tom Watson enters the Government for the first time as an unpaid assistant whip.
In the House of Lords, Education Minister Baroness Ashton and Constitutional Affairs Minister Lord Filkin have swapped jobs.
