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Swift summer reshuffle could help steady the party
Paul Waugh1 May 2009
A swift Cabinet reshuffle this summer is expected to be the Prime Minister's last chance to steady the Labour ship ahead of a general election.
With party insiders predicting “disastrous” losses in June's Euro and local elections, Gordon Brown is under pressure from allies to stamp his authority on the Government with a major rejig of his team.
The ministers below are among those whose futures being discussed by MPs.
The Home Secretary is the most obvious candidate for the axe. Even if she is cleared by the current anti-sleaze inquiry into her second home allowance, the damage to Ms Smith's reputation that followed her husband's “porngate” gaffe is regarded as terminal.
There is, however, a danger that if she is sacrificed the Blairite minister and member for Redditch could lash out and even become a stalking horse candidate. She is expected to lose her seat at the next election and would have little to risk.
The Schools Secretary has made no secret of his desire to get the top job at the Treasury and could be the Prime Minister's last chance to fight back on the economy. A long-time ally and friend of Mr Brown, Mr Balls is one the few ministers who has his total trust.
He impressed as City minister and, as the best-qualified economist in the Government, has been champing at the bit to get stuck into tackling the recession.
The Foreign Secretary was wounded by the speculation surrounding his leadership ambitions last autumn. No.10 insiders were amused by the “bananaman” photographs at last September's party conference and some think he should be given the challenge of the Home Office. His allies think it is more likely to be a poisoned chalice than a challenge, but others believe that Mr Miliband needs to get back onto the domestic policy pitch.
The Business Secretary has in recent weeks appeared to be distant from the Prime Minister after spending months as his most valued confidant.
The 50p tax rate for high-earners was not the peer's favoured option and he has expressed his frustration at the succession of “scatter-gun” policies that lack an overall vision. The post of Foreign Secretary is often spoken of as his “dream job” and his installation at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office would reassure those worried by the removal of Mr Miliband.
If he were to be ousted from the Treasury, the mild-mannered Scot would need to be given a promotion and would have to replace David Miliband as Foreign Secretary to prevent becoming a problem on the backbenches.
Mr Darling has already made clear that he knows where the bodies are buried in the Government and his allies think he has been unfairly blamed for
the downturn.
The Health Secretary has had a “good war” so far during the swine flu outbreak. He could be installed at the Home Office to restore confidence on law and order and anti-terrorism.
But he's also seen as a possible replacement for Harriet Harman as party chairman to restore a sense of grip to the higher levels of government.
A reassuring media performer, could also restore the traditional role of “Minister for the Today programme”. He could be replaced at the health department by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham.
Reader views (8)
All this will do is add to Brown's enemies by putting sacked ministers on the back benches. Every government get to a sell by date and this one has passed it's own.
- Mikes, London, 06/05/2009 11:27
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If Balls is the the best-qualified economist in the Government, I wonder what a poor qualified economist looks like.
- #Ian Gilbertson, Newcastle, 04/05/2009 10:10
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Ian Gilbertson, just what's wrong with one of the "honourable" LABOUR members bringing in a vote of no confidence. Or might that lose them their place in the trough queue?
- Lezli Taubler, London / UK, 01/05/2009 18:37
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I cannot see that a re-shuffle would make any real difference. All the New labour players have been complicit with Brown in bringing the country to its knees. They may not have created the global downturn on their own, but they sure have made a mess of the British economy. Their claim to be leading the world in economic matters is in tatters. We need to be rid of the lot of them. Call an election - now.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK, 01/05/2009 17:13
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Once you have got rid of those named who have been given offices of power and totally failed you may end up with the office cleaner being only one left, thinking about it thats not a bad idea as Im sure they have a better understanding of how the public feel now, unless of course they are getting expences, 2nd home and other scam perks!
- Mike, London England, 01/05/2009 13:18
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You failed to mention Harriet Harman? She is the strinkingly obvious choice to be leader!!
- Daniel, Brent, 01/05/2009 12:26
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A reshuffle would not rid the cess pit of MPs who have been claiming hundreds of thousands of tax payers' money to fund their lavish lifestyles. Brown should have sacked Smith, Balls, Cooper, McNulty, Beckett, Hoon and all the others who have been thieving from the public purse. Alas it is too late - and the task falls upon the electorate to rid parliament of these parasites.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 01/05/2009 10:47
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I fail to understadn how getting a few ministers to swap jobs, sacking a couple and appointing a couple of new ones is going to help Crash Gordon "stamp his authority on the Government".
Labour MP's should do, for once in their life, the honourable thing. Support a no-confidence motion in the House of Common when either the Tories or the Lib-Dems introduce it. It can only be a matter of time.
- Ian Gilbertson, Newcastle, 01/05/2009 10:36
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