Downing Street Says » Reshuffle

The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) briefed journalists on the latest ministerial appointments following the reshuffle. Ruth Kelly, formerly Financial Secretary at the Treasury, had been appointed Minister for the Cabinet Office, moving from one Minister of State post to another. She would also work with Alan Milburn on policy matters. Stephen Timms, formerly Energy Minister at Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), had been appointed Financial Secretary in her place. There was a straight swap between two Peers – Baroness Ashton was moving from Department for Education and Skills (DfES) to Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA). Lord Filkin was moving from DCA to DfES. Tony McNulty had been promoted from Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of State at Department for Transport (DfT). Charlotte Atkins, formerly a Whip, had been appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary at DfT. Douglas Alexander had been appointed Minister of State for Trade in both DTI and Foreign Office. Mike O’Brien, formerly Minister of State for Trade, had been appointed Minister of State in the DTI for E-Commerce, Energy and Competitiveness. Kim Howells, formerly Minister of State at the Department of Transport, was replacing Alan Johnson at DfES as Minister of State with responsibility for Further Education and Universities. Tom Watson had been appointed Assistant Government Whip (unpaid).

Asked who would be paying Alan Milburn’s salary, the PMOS said that it would be paid for by the Government since his role included oversight of the Strategy Unit and Policy Unit, both of which were Government functions. Asked if Douglas Alexander had been offered the post of Energy Minister last night, the PMOS said that he had no intention of getting drawn into a speculative discussion about who might or might not have been offered what job. There was only one Government list and that was the one that had been given to journalists. He repeated that Mr Alexander had been appointed Minister of State for Trade in both the DTI and Foreign Office.

1 Comment »

‘Strategy’ and ‘Policy’ in this context are political matters not Government ones. Alan Milburn’s job will be to promote the Labour Party not assist in the running of the country.

Each Department has its own strategy teams that help deliver the policies of the Government of the day. The No.10 Strategy and Policy units only exist because of the centralisation of power under a more presidential style leadership. If that’s how Mr Blair wants to run his party, that’s up to him. But he shouldn’t use public money to finance it.
Comment by Uncarved Block — 10 Sep 2004 on 11:47 am | Link

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» Thursday, September 9, 2004

Reshuffle

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