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Browne quits cabinet in reshuffle Murphy 'to be Scottish Secretary'
(about 3 hours later)
Des Browne, who held two cabinet posts as Scottish secretary and defence secretary, has quit the government. Europe Minister Jim Murphy has been appointed the new Scottish Secretary, the BBC understands.
Mr Browne is understood to have refused another job offered to him by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in his reshuffle. The Eastwood MP succeeds Des Browne, who was also Defence Secretary.
A source close to Mr Browne said he believed it would be "insulting" to the armed forces to take it. It is understood that Mr Browne was asked to stay on in Scotland and also offered Northern Ireland. He is said to have turned down both.
Mr Browne had held the post of defence secretary since May 2006 and was also appointed Scottish secretary in June last year. Mr Murphy was elected to parliament in 1997, winning what had been the Conservatives' safest seat. He was appointed Europe minister in June 2007.
The defence brief is to be taken over by John Hutton, who was business secretary.The defence brief is to be taken over by John Hutton, who was business secretary.
He paid tribute to Mr Browne, saying: "Des had worked very hard and I think they will miss him at the Ministry of Defence - they have been very supportive of him and vice versa.
"But I do know that he has got young children and it is a hell of a job, with a family, dealing with overseas visits which is part of the stock in trade of the secretary of state for defence."
Dual roles
Mr Browne was part of the 1997 general election intake, serving as the member for Kilmarnock and Loudon.Mr Browne was part of the 1997 general election intake, serving as the member for Kilmarnock and Loudon.
After the 2001 election, he was appointed a parliamentary secretary to the Northern Ireland Office.After the 2001 election, he was appointed a parliamentary secretary to the Northern Ireland Office.
In 2003 he was made work and pensions minister and less than a year later became immigration minister.In 2003 he was made work and pensions minister and less than a year later became immigration minister.
Mr Browne entered the Cabinet in 2005, as chief secretary to the Treasury, before moving to the defence brief during the reshuffle in May 2006.Mr Browne entered the Cabinet in 2005, as chief secretary to the Treasury, before moving to the defence brief during the reshuffle in May 2006.
Last year he was also made Scottish secretary. He defended his dual roles, insisting that he could carry out his ministerial duties effectively.Last year he was also made Scottish secretary. He defended his dual roles, insisting that he could carry out his ministerial duties effectively.