Morning:
14°c
Brown clears way for reshuffle next month
Joe Murphy, Political Editor01.08.08
Gordon Brown is clearing the decks for a possible Cabinet reshuffle as early as Monday 1 September, the Evening Standard can reveal.
Notes are going out to ministers' private offices ordering them to be available for the first week in September.
It would be a "proper" reshuffle, insiders indicated, implying that senior ministers will be on the move, although no final decisions have been taken yet.
Mr Brown is mapping out his plans while holidaying in Suffolk.
The new Cabinet will then gather at the end of the week at Chequers, the Prime Minister's country retreat, for a major political strategy session, where the Prime Minister will present plans on how he aims to restore the Government's popularity and take on the Conservatives in an autumn fight-back.
Mr Brown is determined after his summer break to regain the political agenda. There are signs that the Pre-Budget Report might be brought forward to late October to keep up the momentum with a slew of populist announcements, such as more help for 10p tax losers and a windfall tax on energy giants to fund help for the elderly with their winter heating bills.
The disclosure will spark feverish speculation about the reshuffle - especially the fate of Chancellor Alistair Darling, who has borne the brunt of voter anger at the economic slowdown.
One well-connected MP said there was talk of Mr Darling swapping jobs with Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
Mr Brown is expected to promote several rising stars, including Housing Minister Caroline Flint and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne. There is also talk of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Defence Secretary Des Browne being shifted.
After his break, Mr Brown is flying to Beijing for the Olympics and will return to the UK after the August bank holiday when final decisions on a reshuffle would be made with close advisers and the whips.
Allies admit that the Prime Minister needs a successful September to defeat a guerrilla-style challenge to his leadership. It looks almost certain that dissident backbenchers will sign a letter urging the Cabinet to ask him to step down and some junior ministers have let it be known they will resign if necessary to force his hand.
The danger to Mr Brown increased hugely this week when David Miliband marked himself as a leader-in-waiting.
Mr Brown's move emerged after Mr Miliband cancelled a trip to India, interpretedby some as a sign of a leadership coup being plotted. In fact, he was anticipating the reshuffle and Chequers meeting. Mr Brown drew back from a head-on row, despite some MPs urging him to sack the Foreign Secretary.
The recall of ministers in effect brings forward the start of the political season by a week. Until today's disclosure, the first Cabinet meeting was not set until 9 September and Mr Brown's first big engagement in the diary was a speech to union leaders at the TUC, which starts on 8 September.
The spotlight then moves to party conference, beginning on 20 September, where allies hope Mr Brown can pull off a barnstorming speech to douse questions over his leadership. His new agenda is thought to include an " economic recovery plan" addressing voters' worries about the falling property market and rising food and fuel costs.
Reader views (7)
For god sake, who cares about Clown and his fight back.
The electorate want results and a say. The lies this bunch of inept MPs and PM continue to insult our intelligence is beyond contempt.
Labour voters, conservative voters alike don't care, all we want is some honesty and a better standard of living. Under Labour, all we have seen is more red tape and a decline in our standard of living. Brown has totally screwed the economy and all he can repeat is "I'm getting on with the job".
Moron of a man. We can all see the grin and smirk. Feel sorry for your family "Brown" you will be remembered in history as the worse PM, unelected come to that.
The legacy you will have left is a bankrupt country reliant on the EU.
- Asw, Hong Kong
Wouldn't it be interesting if the Prime Minister had to follow the same rules he has imposed via Europe on the rest of us with regards to Employment? Maybe he would have to have a series of consultations before he dismisses somebody from a role. Maybe a Cabinet Minister could sue for constructive dismissal if they are reshuffled. Maybe there should be a full competency procedure with the right of appeal.
If Prime Ministers were subject to the same rules as everybody else, maybe there would be more stability and less in fighting. Maybe ministers would concentrate on their roles rather than wondering who was going to stab them in the back or change their job every six months to deflect blame from their glorious leader.
Different Expenses. Different Laws. Half of them have barely worked in the real world and we expect them to legislate for us.
Maybe the law should insist MPs have at least 10 years experience in a job outside politics before they join the Westminster bubble
- M C Spanner, Ilford
We don't expect the PM to bring in a fresh team of experts and personalities exuding competency and enthusiasm, but only another 'musical chairs' shuffle of the same compromised and tired old faces.
- Lambert, London, UK
If Gordon Brown is looking for issues to put on his agenda, look no further than the national referendum on the Lisbon Treaty (E.U. Constitution) which was promised in Labour's manifesto. 85% or more of this country wants a say on whether the U.K. remains a country or becomes an E.U. province. It's a win-win for Brown. He promised to listen to the people and give Brits a bigger say in their future, and the cost to the Treasury is small compared to some of the financial goodies he's apparently considering.
- Phil Jones, London UK
Deck chairs on the Titanic...
- Mikko Takala, Drumnadrochit, Scotland
Yes that's the solution to violence - let's go back to the dark ages and bring back capital punishment..not. As for the reshuffle - I don't like Gordon Brown one bit but I certainly do not want a jumped up mini-Blair taking over in the form of David Miliband. Brown should put him in his place.
- Athena Murphy, London NW3
In view of the number of murders being committed, almost on a daily basis, is it not time to reconsider capital punishment. The general public should have an opportunity to air their views on the matter, possibly by way of a referendum.
- Muriel Ormond, Dundee, Angus
