2006 British cabinet reshuffle

Tony Blair

Following poor results for the Labour Party in the local elections in England on 4 May 2006, British Prime Minister Tony Blair held a cabinet reshuffle the following day.

Changes

Secretary of State for the Home Department

John Reid moved from Defence to become the new Home Secretary, following Blair's decision to remove Charles Clarke from the position. Clarke refused the offer of other Cabinet positions and returned to the back benches. This was Reid's ninth cabinet position in nine years.

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

Margaret Beckett, previously Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, was promoted to become Britain's first ever female Foreign Secretary, replacing Jack Straw. Straw had held the prominent position from 2001 and was heavily involved in the War on terror. Straw's departure from his role as Foreign Secretary had not been widely predicted, but the move apparently came at his own request for a change following nearly a decade of service in front-line positions in the Cabinet, first as Home Secretary and then as Foreign Secretary[1] although others have argued that Straw was sacked for his growing allegiance with Gordon Brown and dismissal of military action against Iran.[2] Straw became Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal, and also took over responsibility for reform of the House of Lords and political party funding.

Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State

John Prescott remained as Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State, but was stripped of all the departmental ministerial responsibilities formerly associated with the office, apparently at his own request, following the revelation that he had an affair with his secretary. These responsibilities were taken over by Ruth Kelly under the new title of Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Leader of the House of Commons, Lords Reform and Party Funding

Jack Straw, formerly Foreign Secretary, took over the Leadership of the House of Commons and the sinecure office of Lord Privy Seal from Geoff Hoon (who became Minister of State for Europe). Responsibility for Reform of the House of Lords and political party funding was transferred from the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs.

Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

Alistair Darling, formerly both the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Scotland, replaced Alan Johnson as the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Johnson was moved to become Secretary of State for Education and Skills.

Cabinet Office and Social Exclusion Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Hilary Armstrong moved from her former function as Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury to become Minister for the Cabinet Office and Minister for Social Exclusion. She also filled the traditional sinecure office of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which had been vacant since John Hutton was promoted to replace David Blunkett as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in November 2005.

Secretary of State for Education and Skills

Alan Johnson, formerly Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, became the new Secretary of State for Education and Skills. He replaced Ruth Kelly, who moved to the new office of Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

Ruth Kelly, formerly Secretary of State for Education and Skills, became the new Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. This department took over some functions from the Home Office and the Department of Trade and Industry, especially connected with equality legislation, but the bulk of the department was made up of the former Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, which was run by John Prescott before he lost his departmental responsibilities in the reshuffle, and also takes over the responsibilities of David Miliband, former Minister of State for Communities and Local Government.

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

David Miliband moved from his position in the Cabinet as Minister of State for Communities and Local Government to become the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He replaced Margaret Beckett, who was promoted to become Foreign Secretary.

Secretary of State for Defence

Des Browne replaced John Reid as Secretary of State for Defence. He was previously Chief Secretary to the Treasury, another Cabinet position. Reid was promoted to become Home Secretary.

Secretary of State for Transport and Secretary of State for Scotland

The roles of Secretary of State for Transport and Secretary of State for Scotland were filled by Douglas Alexander. Both of these positions were formerly held by Alistair Darling, who became Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

Minister without Portfolio and Party Chairman

Hazel Blears replaced Ian McCartney as Minister without Portfolio and Chairman of the Labour Party. McCartney was demoted to become Minister of State for Trade, attending the Cabinet, but not actively voting in it.

Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury

The positions of Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury were given to Jacqui Smith, replacing Hilary Armstrong. Smith was previously Minister of State for Schools in the Department for Education and Skills. Armstrong became Minister of State for the Cabinet Office and for "Social Exclusion", and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Stephen Timms was promoted to Cabinet rank to become the new Chief Secretary to the Treasury, replacing Des Browne. Timms had served in the Treasury twice before, in the more junior office of Financial Secretary to the Treasury, and was Minister for Pensions before the reshuffle. This was Timms' first Cabinet appointment.

Minister for Europe, attending Cabinet

Geoff Hoon, formerly Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal, became the new Minister for Europe at the Foreign Office. Initial reports billed him as "Secretary of State for Europe", which may have been his understanding at the time he left Downing Street.[3] Although he continued to attend the Cabinet, he had lost his Cabinet vote, and his new position was a substantial demotion.[4]

Cabinet from 5 May 2006

Position(s) Minister
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service Rt Hon Tony Blair MP unchanged
Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State Rt Hon John Prescott MP unchanged
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP unchanged
Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal Rt Hon Jack Straw MP
Foreign Secretary Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP
Home Secretary Rt Hon John Reid MP
Secretary of State for Health Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt MP unchanged
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP unchanged
Minister for the Cabinet Office and for Social Exclusion and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Rt Hon Hilary Armstrong MP
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Secretary of State for Wales Rt Hon Peter Hain MP unchanged
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council Rt Hon Baroness Amos unchanged
Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor Rt Hon Lord Falconer of Thoroton QC unchanged
Secretary of State for International Development Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP unchanged
Secretary of State for Education and Skills Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Minister for Women Rt Hon Ruth Kelly MP
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Rt Hon John Hutton MP unchanged
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Rt Hon David Miliband MP
Secretary of State for Defence Rt Hon Des Browne MP
Secretary of State for Transport and Secretary of State for Scotland Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP
Minister without Portfolio Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP
Chief Whip (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury) Rt Hon Jacqui Smith MP
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Timms MP to be sworn of the Privy Council
Also attending cabinet (but not voting)
Lords Chief Whip and Captain of the Gentlemen at Arms The Rt Hon Lord Grocott unchanged
Attorney general Rt Hon Lord Goldsmith QC unchanged
Minister of State for Europe (in the FCO) Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP
Minister of State for Trade (in the FCO and the DTI) Rt Hon Ian McCartney MP

References

Notes
  1. ^ Oliver King (9 May 2006). "Clarke sacked in major cabinet reshuffle". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  2. ^ "UK News, World News and Opinion". The Times. 8 May 2013. Archived from the original on 12 January 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  3. ^ "The Times". Timesonline.co.uk. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.[dead link‍]
  4. ^ Hinsliff, Gaby (6 May 2006). "The last throw of the dice". The Observer. London. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
Sources