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Ministerial reshuffle announced

  • Published: Friday, 3 October 2008

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced a series of ministerial changes in advance of next week's return of Parliament.

There are changes to several senior Cabinet figures and the creation of a new government department.

Departmental changes

A new Department of Energy and Climate Change is being formed from the energy responsibilities of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the climate responsibilities of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).  It will focus on solving the challenges of climate change and energy supply.

Cabinet changes

New faces

Peter Mandelson is leaving his current post as the EU's Commissioner for External Trade and will become the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.  He has been given a Life Peerage and will take up his post in the House of Lords

Margaret Beckett returns to the Cabinet as the Minister for Housing and will attend Cabinet meetings.

Departures

Lord Digby Jones is stepping down as Minister of State for Trade and Investment.

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly had previously announced that she would be leaving her job.

Des Browne has left his job as Scottish Secretary.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland has left her post as Leader of the House of Lords.

Changes


John Hutton leaves BERR and replaces Des Browne as Secretary of State for Defence.

Ed Miliband takes a new Cabinet post as the head of the new Department of Energy and Climate Change

Geoff Hoon leaves his job as Chief Whip and becomes Transport Secretary replacing Ruth Kelly.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon will replace Baroness Ashton of Upholland as Leader of the House of Lords.

Nick Brown is the new Chief Whip.

Jim Murphy leaves his job as Minister for Europe and takes over Des Browne's post as Scottish Secretary.

Liam Byrne leaves borders and immigration and becomes Minister of State in the Cabinet Office and will attend Cabinet meetings.

Caroline Flint leaves housing to become the Minister for Europe and will attend Cabinet.

Tony McNulty becomes the Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions, also attending Cabinet.

Further information

Full details of all the ministerial changes are available on the Number 10 website.

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