This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7647546.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Reshuffle talk dampened by No 10 | |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Downing Street has cooled expectations of a possible cabinet reshuffle on Thursday, saying Gordon Brown "is very focused on other things". | |
| The prime minister is widely expected to carry out a limited reshuffle of his top team before MPs return on Monday. | |
| But No 10's spokesman said the PM was concentrating on the economic situation - and said Mr Brown would attend emergency talks in Paris on Saturday. | |
| A successor to Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly will be among changes announced. | |
| Mother-of-four Ms Kelly has said it was time to "step back" from politics and put her family first. | Mother-of-four Ms Kelly has said it was time to "step back" from politics and put her family first. |
| 'No issues' | 'No issues' |
| The MP for Bolton West denied that the decision had anything to do with unhappiness with the leadership of Mr Brown. | The MP for Bolton West denied that the decision had anything to do with unhappiness with the leadership of Mr Brown. |
| And Mr Brown said Ms Kelly had informed him of her plans in May, adding: "There are no political issues between Ruth and me." | And Mr Brown said Ms Kelly had informed him of her plans in May, adding: "There are no political issues between Ruth and me." |
| BBC News political editor Nick Robinson says the reshuffle will be very limited and not a "dramatic shifting of the chairs at the top table". | BBC News political editor Nick Robinson says the reshuffle will be very limited and not a "dramatic shifting of the chairs at the top table". |
| Ministers tipped for promotion in Thursday's newspapers include immigration minister Liam Byrne, minister for Europe Jim Murphy and home office minister Tony McNulty. | Ministers tipped for promotion in Thursday's newspapers include immigration minister Liam Byrne, minister for Europe Jim Murphy and home office minister Tony McNulty. |
| The limited changes expected at cabinet level would be the first since January when Peter Hain resigned as work and pensions secretary. | The limited changes expected at cabinet level would be the first since January when Peter Hain resigned as work and pensions secretary. |
| Meanwhile, Downing Street has confirmed the government is considering formalising some of the ad hoc meetings that have been taking place in recent days on the financial crisis. | Meanwhile, Downing Street has confirmed the government is considering formalising some of the ad hoc meetings that have been taking place in recent days on the financial crisis. |
| Number 10 is talking about setting up a "rolling group of people who can quickly take decisions". | Number 10 is talking about setting up a "rolling group of people who can quickly take decisions". |
| But this would not necessarily be similar to the cross-departmental anti-terror and emergency committee Cobra, as reported in the Times newspaper. | But this would not necessarily be similar to the cross-departmental anti-terror and emergency committee Cobra, as reported in the Times newspaper. |