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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
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| Woodward misses out on big job | Woodward misses out on big job |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| Northern Ireland Secretary of State Shaun Woodward has missed out on a promotion in the Cabinet reshuffle. | |
| Earlier, there had been speculation he would get the health or defence job but now the BBC understands that he is to continue in his current job. | |
| Mr Woodward has been to the fore in supporting Gordon Brown as his leadership comes under fire. | Mr Woodward has been to the fore in supporting Gordon Brown as his leadership comes under fire. |
| Mr Woodward has has held the safe Labour seat of St Helens since 2001. | |
| Earlier he said he was confident in Gordon Brown's leadership. | |
| "What we're seeing today is a Cabinet coming behind Gordon Brown, a reshuffle under way -- a reshuffle to serve the country. That's our job and that's what we should do," he said. | "What we're seeing today is a Cabinet coming behind Gordon Brown, a reshuffle under way -- a reshuffle to serve the country. That's our job and that's what we should do," he said. |
| Mr Woodward was a Conservative MP between 1997 and 1999 when he defected to Labour. | Mr Woodward was a Conservative MP between 1997 and 1999 when he defected to Labour. |
| He moved up the ministerial ranks, joining the Cabinet for the first time two years ago. | He moved up the ministerial ranks, joining the Cabinet for the first time two years ago. |
| 'Very strong' | 'Very strong' |
| He had been linked to to the job of Home Secretary which will be vacated when Jacqui Smith steps down, but that has gone to Health Secretary Alan Johnson. | He had been linked to to the job of Home Secretary which will be vacated when Jacqui Smith steps down, but that has gone to Health Secretary Alan Johnson. |
| Some political sources had also linked him with the Defence Secretary job but that has gone to Bob Ainsworth, the Armed Forces Minister. | Some political sources had also linked him with the Defence Secretary job but that has gone to Bob Ainsworth, the Armed Forces Minister. |
| John Hutton is standing down as Defence Secretary and is leaving the Cabinet. | John Hutton is standing down as Defence Secretary and is leaving the Cabinet. |
| Gordon Brown is shaking up his cabinet after Thursday's European and English local elections. | Gordon Brown is shaking up his cabinet after Thursday's European and English local elections. |
| Mr Woodward said the prime minister's mood was "very strong, very resilient". | Mr Woodward said the prime minister's mood was "very strong, very resilient". |
| "It's almost when things are at their toughest that you see the real mettle of this person," he said. | "It's almost when things are at their toughest that you see the real mettle of this person," he said. |