Gordon Brown’s cabinet reshuffle is underway today, with the unexpected return of some old faces:
The biggest surprise is that Peter Mandelson, EU Trade Commissioner since 2004, returns to the cabinet for a third time, this time as Business Secretary. Margaret Beckett is also back, in the new role of “Cabinet Enforcer.”
John Hutton will replace Des Browne as Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon replaces Ruth Kelly at Transport.
The reshuffle is being presented as Government readiness to tackle the crises in the economy and the environment. However, as Alex Foster said here yesterday, this could appear to be a rearranging of the deckchairs, in a Government with enough crises of its own.
Will the new cabinet make a difference to the country and to Labour’s fortunes? Or is it too late?
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Ed Mili to head “Department for energy security and climate change”
From the BBC:
“A new department is being created to deal with the pressing challenges of energy security and climate change. It will combine the energy responsibilities of the business department and the climate focus of the environment ministry.”
Rumours are that Ed Miliband will be its minister.
Does that mean that Peter Mandeleson has had more comebacks to Cabinet than anyone sicne Churchill?
It would be interesting to see Camoron’s response if this new government department were set up 🙂
The return of Peter was summed up very well by Iain Smith MSP (at the Glenrothes campaign HQ) just now – back to the future.
He’d keep it, but change the name to the “Department for energy security, climate change and children playing on pure organic grass amid rainbows”.
Dept for Energy Security ??
Surprised he hasn’t brought back Manny Shinwell !!