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| Version 11 | Version 12 |
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| Mandelson to return to government | Mandelson to return to government |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Peter Mandelson has been drafted back into government in a surprise move, as Gordon Brown reshuffles his cabinet. | Peter Mandelson has been drafted back into government in a surprise move, as Gordon Brown reshuffles his cabinet. |
| The EU trade commissioner was twice forced to resign from Tony Blair's cabinet. He will be made business secretary with a seat in the Lords. | The EU trade commissioner was twice forced to resign from Tony Blair's cabinet. He will be made business secretary with a seat in the Lords. |
| Business Secretary John Hutton replaces Des Browne at defence and Geoff Hoon replaces Ruth Kelly at transport. | Business Secretary John Hutton replaces Des Browne at defence and Geoff Hoon replaces Ruth Kelly at transport. |
| Labour veteran Margaret Beckett returns to cabinet while Ed Miliband is to head up a new climate and energy department. | Labour veteran Margaret Beckett returns to cabinet while Ed Miliband is to head up a new climate and energy department. |
| Defence Secretary Mr Browne is to leave the government, the BBC has learned. He was offered another job but he felt it would be an insult to the armed forces to leave as defence secretary and then take another job. | Defence Secretary Mr Browne is to leave the government, the BBC has learned. He was offered another job but he felt it would be an insult to the armed forces to leave as defence secretary and then take another job. |
| CABINET MOVES Peter Mandelson to businessMargaret Beckett to returnGeoff Hoon to transportDes Browne to leaveEd Miliband to climate/energyJohn Hutton to defence class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7648551.stm">LIVE TEXT - Cabinet reshuffle class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7650780.stm">In quotes: Reshuffle reaction | |
| Former foreign secretary Mrs Beckett is one of the most experienced Labour figures. She served as acting leader after John Smith's death and has a career dating back to Labour's 1974-9 government. | Former foreign secretary Mrs Beckett is one of the most experienced Labour figures. She served as acting leader after John Smith's death and has a career dating back to Labour's 1974-9 government. |
| She may be given a "cabinet enforcer" role while former cabinet minister Nick Brown is also expected to return as chief whip, to replace Mr Hoon. | She may be given a "cabinet enforcer" role while former cabinet minister Nick Brown is also expected to return as chief whip, to replace Mr Hoon. |
| In another surprise move, a new department of energy and climate will be created, to be headed by former Cabinet Office minister Ed Miliband. Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Ashton, will replace Mr Mandelson in Brussels. | In another surprise move, a new department of energy and climate will be created, to be headed by former Cabinet Office minister Ed Miliband. Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Ashton, will replace Mr Mandelson in Brussels. |
| Controversial figure | |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward and Environment Secretary Hilary Benn are expected to remain in their current posts - as are those in the top jobs, chancellor, home secretary and foreign secretary. | Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward and Environment Secretary Hilary Benn are expected to remain in their current posts - as are those in the top jobs, chancellor, home secretary and foreign secretary. |
| The reshuffle is taking place after the announcement that Ms Kelly is to stand down to spend more time with her family. Trade minister Lord Jones has also said he wants to step down. | The reshuffle is taking place after the announcement that Ms Kelly is to stand down to spend more time with her family. Trade minister Lord Jones has also said he wants to step down. |
| This is an extraordinary step backwards into the worst elements of the Blair era, to reinstate possibly the most divisive figure in Labour's recent history John McDonnellLeft wing Labour MP Profile: Peter MandelsonBrowne quits cabinetBusiness hails Mandelson return | This is an extraordinary step backwards into the worst elements of the Blair era, to reinstate possibly the most divisive figure in Labour's recent history John McDonnellLeft wing Labour MP Profile: Peter MandelsonBrowne quits cabinetBusiness hails Mandelson return |
| Sources have told the BBC the reshuffle is not merely a "tidying up exercise" but an attempt to reconfigure government to tackle the economic crisis. | |
| There have been tensions between Mr Brown and Mr Mandelson for years, since the two men fell out when Mr Mandelson backed Tony Blair for the Labour leadership in 1994. | There have been tensions between Mr Brown and Mr Mandelson for years, since the two men fell out when Mr Mandelson backed Tony Blair for the Labour leadership in 1994. |
| But at the height of a row between Mr Mandelson and French President Nicholas Sarkozy over international trade talks this summer, the prime minister backed the trade commissioner, saying he was doing "excellent work". | But at the height of a row between Mr Mandelson and French President Nicholas Sarkozy over international trade talks this summer, the prime minister backed the trade commissioner, saying he was doing "excellent work". |
| Mr Brown will be keen to draw on his global finance experience gained during his four years as EU trade commissioner. | Mr Brown will be keen to draw on his global finance experience gained during his four years as EU trade commissioner. |
| 'A masterstroke' | 'A masterstroke' |
| But he has been a controversial figure, resigning twice from cabinet posts - once over a loan from his ministerial colleague Geoffrey Robinson and once over allegations of misconduct over a passport application for the Hinduja brothers. | But he has been a controversial figure, resigning twice from cabinet posts - once over a loan from his ministerial colleague Geoffrey Robinson and once over allegations of misconduct over a passport application for the Hinduja brothers. |
| An inquiry later cleared him of wrongdoing over the Hinduja affair. | An inquiry later cleared him of wrongdoing over the Hinduja affair. |
| Derek Draper: 'It's absolutely fantastic news for the Labour party' | Derek Draper: 'It's absolutely fantastic news for the Labour party' |
| Former home secretary David Blunkett described his appointment as a "masterstroke" and told the BBC it would unite the government. | Former home secretary David Blunkett described his appointment as a "masterstroke" and told the BBC it would unite the government. |
| "It is embracing someone who, in the past, had been seen as being very close to Tony Blair, so it's an inclusive measure," he said. | "It is embracing someone who, in the past, had been seen as being very close to Tony Blair, so it's an inclusive measure," he said. |
| "It's someone who's got a tremendous breath of political experience and I think that adds to the weight of the cabinet." | "It's someone who's got a tremendous breath of political experience and I think that adds to the weight of the cabinet." |
| Justice Secretary Jack Straw said Mr Mandelson would fit the job as business secretary "like a glove" and the appointment showed, after "a few wobbles over the summer ... the whole party is getting behind Gordon". | Justice Secretary Jack Straw said Mr Mandelson would fit the job as business secretary "like a glove" and the appointment showed, after "a few wobbles over the summer ... the whole party is getting behind Gordon". |
| But left wing Labour MP John McDonnell said he was "absolutely gobsmacked": "This is an extraordinary step backwards into the worst elements of the Blair era, to reinstate possibly the most divisive figure in Labour's recent history." | But left wing Labour MP John McDonnell said he was "absolutely gobsmacked": "This is an extraordinary step backwards into the worst elements of the Blair era, to reinstate possibly the most divisive figure in Labour's recent history." |
| Business ambassador | Business ambassador |
| The Conservatives described it as a "stunning failure of judgment" by Mr Brown. | The Conservatives described it as a "stunning failure of judgment" by Mr Brown. |
| Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "In bringing back Peter Mandelson - the man who created Labour spin - he has broken his promise to govern in an honest and open way." | Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "In bringing back Peter Mandelson - the man who created Labour spin - he has broken his promise to govern in an honest and open way." |
| HAVE YOUR SAYBrown has lost his marbles if he thinks that bringing Mandelson back will give him credibility Tim, WirralSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYBrown has lost his marbles if he thinks that bringing Mandelson back will give him credibility Tim, WirralSend us your comments |
| He added: "By leaving in place a chancellor who has failed and a foreign secretary who has undermined him at every opportunity Gordon Brown has also been exposed as weak." | He added: "By leaving in place a chancellor who has failed and a foreign secretary who has undermined him at every opportunity Gordon Brown has also been exposed as weak." |
| For the Liberal Democrats, Danny Alexander said: "Resurrecting ex-ministers from the political graveyard is not going to breathe new life into Gordon Brown's zombie government." | For the Liberal Democrats, Danny Alexander said: "Resurrecting ex-ministers from the political graveyard is not going to breathe new life into Gordon Brown's zombie government." |
| In a separate development, Sir John Bond, the chairman of Vodafone, is to become a "business ambassador" for the government. | In a separate development, Sir John Bond, the chairman of Vodafone, is to become a "business ambassador" for the government. |
| Mr Brown's press secretary and special adviser for media affairs, Damian McBride, is to to take a "more back room role" and will no longer speak to the media on the government's behalf. Government officials stress it was his decision. | Mr Brown's press secretary and special adviser for media affairs, Damian McBride, is to to take a "more back room role" and will no longer speak to the media on the government's behalf. Government officials stress it was his decision. |