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| New faces in huge Cabinet revamp | New faces in huge Cabinet revamp |
| (23 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has appointed Jacqui Smith as Britain's first female home secretary in a huge Cabinet overhaul. | |
| Alistair Darling becomes chancellor, David Miliband foreign secretary, Alan Johnson health secretary and Peter Hain trade and industry secretary. | Alistair Darling becomes chancellor, David Miliband foreign secretary, Alan Johnson health secretary and Peter Hain trade and industry secretary. |
| Mr Brown's closest political ally Ed Balls will be the newly-created schools and children secretary. | Mr Brown's closest political ally Ed Balls will be the newly-created schools and children secretary. |
| Ruth Kelly goes to transport, Jack Straw is the new justice secretary and Hilary Benn moves to environment. | Ruth Kelly goes to transport, Jack Straw is the new justice secretary and Hilary Benn moves to environment. |
| Mr Brown has also offered Lib Dem peer Shirley Williams an advisory role. | Mr Brown has also offered Lib Dem peer Shirley Williams an advisory role. |
| NEW CABINET Prime minister: Gordon BrownChancellor: Alistair DarlingForeign Secretary: David MilibandHome Secretary: Jacqui SmithHealth: Alan JohnsonSchools and children: Ed BallsJustice: Jack StrawCommons leader: Harriet Harman Defence and Scotland: Des BrowneInt Development: Douglas AlexanderWork and Pensions: Peter HainNorthern Ireland: To be confirmedCabinet office minister: Ed MilibandCulture: James PurnellTransport: Ruth KellyLords leader: Baroness AshtonAttorney General: Baroness ScotlandEnvironment: Hilary BennChief Whip: Geoff HoonIndustry: John HuttonDuchy of Lancaster: To be confirmedHousing: Yvette Cooper (tipped)Communities: Hazel Blears Old Cabinet, New Cabinet href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6249316.stm">Jacqui Smith: Home secretary | |
| Baroness Williams, who left the Labour Party as one of the founders of the Social Democratic Party in the early 1980s, has told the BBC she is considering the offer to advise on international nuclear proliferation. | Baroness Williams, who left the Labour Party as one of the founders of the Social Democratic Party in the early 1980s, has told the BBC she is considering the offer to advise on international nuclear proliferation. |
| New faces in Mr Brown's first Cabinet include James Purnell, who takes over as culture secretary from Tessa Jowell. | |
| Yvette Cooper, Ed Balls' wife, is also tipped to become housing secretary, a newly-created post. | |
| David Miliband said he was "tremendously honoured" to be asked to become foreign secretary in Mr Brown's new government, pledging a "diplomacy that is patient as well as purposeful, which listens as well as leads". | |
| "I believe that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is a unique global asset for Britain and I want to ensure it's deployed to maximum effect to help build the better Britain and the better world that Gordon Brown, the new prime minister has laid out so convincingly." | |
| Jacqui Smith is perhaps the biggest surprise in the new line-up, having not previously held a ministerial brief. | |
| BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said she was highly regarded by Brownites. | |
| But he said she faced a tough job even with slimmed down home office, with prisons and other functions coming under the control of new Justice Secretary Jack Straw. | |
| 'Heavyweights' departing | |
| Harriet Harman, who was elected deputy leader of the Labour Party, and will be taking over as party chairman, becomes leader of the House of Commons. | Harriet Harman, who was elected deputy leader of the Labour Party, and will be taking over as party chairman, becomes leader of the House of Commons. |
| Hazel Blears, who was among the five MPs to lose out to Ms Harman in the deputy race, becomes communities secretary. | |
| John Hutton, who has been replaced as work and pensions secretary by Peter Hain, will become Trade and Industry Secretary. | John Hutton, who has been replaced as work and pensions secretary by Peter Hain, will become Trade and Industry Secretary. |
| LEAVING CABINET John ReidMargaret BeckettPatricia HewittLord GoldsmithHilary ArmstrongValerie Amos Profile: The new 'first lady' Shirley Williams offered role | |
| It is not yet known who will replace Mr Hain as Northern Ireland Secretary - the job turned down by Lib Dem peer Paddy Ashdown. | It is not yet known who will replace Mr Hain as Northern Ireland Secretary - the job turned down by Lib Dem peer Paddy Ashdown. |
| Former defence secretary Geoff Hoon is expected to be named chief whip. | Former defence secretary Geoff Hoon is expected to be named chief whip. |
| Several heavyweight figures in predecessor Tony Blair's Cabinet are going. | Several heavyweight figures in predecessor Tony Blair's Cabinet are going. |
| John Reid is retiring as home secretary, Margaret Beckett is leaving the role of foreign secretary and Baroness Amos is no longer to be leader of the House of Lords. | John Reid is retiring as home secretary, Margaret Beckett is leaving the role of foreign secretary and Baroness Amos is no longer to be leader of the House of Lords. |
| Patricia Hewitt, who has elderly parents in Australia, said she was quitting as health secretary, and resigning from the government, for "personal reasons". | Patricia Hewitt, who has elderly parents in Australia, said she was quitting as health secretary, and resigning from the government, for "personal reasons". |
| Mid-East envoy | Mid-East envoy |
| It is thought unlikely that a replacement will be announced for outgoing Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. | It is thought unlikely that a replacement will be announced for outgoing Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Every incoming boss in a new job needs to make his mark Terry Killeavy, Gotham class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6715&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| Before entering 10 Downing Street on Wednesday, the new prime minister said: "I will try my utmost. This is my promise to all of the people of Britain. And now let the work of change begin." | Before entering 10 Downing Street on Wednesday, the new prime minister said: "I will try my utmost. This is my promise to all of the people of Britain. And now let the work of change begin." |
| After stepping down as prime minister, Mr Blair also quit as MP for Sedgefield to become a Middle East peace envoy on behalf of the EU, US, UN and Russia. | After stepping down as prime minister, Mr Blair also quit as MP for Sedgefield to become a Middle East peace envoy on behalf of the EU, US, UN and Russia. |
| This will prompt a by-election, expected to take place in mid-July. | This will prompt a by-election, expected to take place in mid-July. |