Friday 5 June 2009

The Brown Shuffle - Live Blog

Brown sprung his reshuffle today and it doesn't look like there will be a leadership challenge, Alan Johnson thought to be the man with a plan, has become Home Secretary. That's political poison with their current policy, Johnson's only hope is Labour don't last long enough for his new role to do permanent damage.

Alistair Darling stays on as chancellor, he was too much of a risk to move. Brown will regret stringing him along though, as Alistair Darling staying after Brown's lack of support, will fill the headlines with how weak his position is.

John Hutton resigned today. David Miliband, Jack Straw and Mandelson keep their jobs.

Odd one, Sir Alan Sugar being made enterprise czar, whatever that is. Yet I do feel reassured that at least there's someone there to fire Brown.

Yvette Cooper just got promoted to work and pensions secretary, Ed Balls stays as schools secretary. Clearly that was Ed Balls pay off, the wife gets a seat on the front bench.

John Denham replaces Blears as new communities secretary, Denham was one of the Iraq rebels, he's always over looked for promotion, though always promised a cabinet post.

Bob Ainsworth is new defence secretary, which is just a step up the ladder given he was Minister of State for the Armed Services.

Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has resigned. Who would of though he had any backbone or ability to do the right thing.

Ed Miliband keeps his job as climate secretary.

Andy Burnham is the new health minster, moving from the culture secretary post. This is getting like filling a bucket with a hole in it.

More chaos reshuffling, Caroline Flint has now resigned she said about Brown:
I am extremely disappointed at your failure to have an inclusive Government. You have a two-tier Government - your inner circle and then the remainder of Cabinet.
Tony McNulty resigned, about time.

Ben Bradshaw gets promoted to culture secretary.

Lord Adonis will become Transport Secretary to replace Geoff Hoon. Which out of all today's shuffling is good news for train commuters, he has actually toured British railway network and loves trains. Might not be such good news for road and air transport.

Glenys Kinnock wife of ex-Labour leader Neil Kinnock, will replace Caroline Flint as Europe minister. She's alright, yeah!

Politics home have the press release up on their web site.

Not a bad day for Brown, he's made two peers, had four resignations and hasn't really changed the cabinet, just plugged the holes.



No comments:

Post a Comment