Styron
5th Sep 2004, 18:30
Blair Cabinet reshuffle to bring back Milburn
By Melissa Kite, Deputy Political Editor
(Filed: 05/09/2004)
Link to Story http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/09/05/nshuf05.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/09/05/ixhome.html
Tony Blair is preparing to recall Alan Milburn, the former Health Secretary, to the Cabinet in a government reshuffle, which is due to be announced this week.
Mr Milburn, who resigned last year to spend more time with his family, has agreed to return to frontline politics as party chairman.
Ian McCartney, the current Labour chairman, is expected to be removed after what is viewed at Downing Street as an increasingly poor performance, culminating in Labour's disastrous showing in the local and European elections in June. The Prime Minister hopes that Mr Milburn, a more forceful and media-friendly figure, will improve Labour's public image.
Mr Blair was preparing to unveil the reshuffle on Thursday or Friday, senior Whitehall officials said. The changes will be designed to ensure that the Prime Minister's most valued supporters are in the key government positions ahead of the general election, which is expected next year.
The reshuffle was meant to happen in July, but was scuppered by lengthy negotiations between Mr Blair and Peter Mandelson over what role the former Northern Ireland Secretary should be given in his political comeback. He finally chose to become an EU commissioner.
Mr McCartney's removal is being fiercely opposed by John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, who has warned Mr Blair that the former seaman's popularity with the unions makes him indispensable.
Mr Milburn, by contrast, adopted a confrontational attitude towards the National Health Service unions in his previous Cabinet post. There are also rumblings within the Labour Party about consultancy work that Mr Milburn has carried out since his resignation from the Cabinet for a company called Bridgepoint, which provides private healthcare and which stands to benefit from the Government's private finance initiatives.
However, Mr Blair favours the ultra-loyal Mr Milburn for the post because he is viewed as someone who will be able to communicate effectively on radio and television. Mr McCartney will be compensated with a senior Cabinet Office position that will give him the right to remain at the Cabinet table.
"The feeling is that while Ian McCartney may be able to talk to the unions and the Labour Party, middle England doesn't understand him. Alan would be much better at the spin we need before the election," a senior party member said.
Those tipped for demotion include Andrew Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary, who has failed to impress. According to one senior official, Mr Blair had wanted to give Mr Mandelson the job, with a remit to push through tough reforms on incapacity benefit. Mr Mandelson turned this down.
Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, is one of those being considered for Work and Pensions. If that happens, Patricia Hewitt could become Britain's first female Defence Secretary, having long been tipped for a move from Trade and Industry.
Ruth Kelly, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, is another thought likely to gain promotion, possibly replacing Paul Boateng as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
If Mr Milburn does return, it will be just over a year since he left to spend more time with Ruth Briel and their two young sons.
He has described this new life out of government as "a million times better". Despite such statements, Mr Milburn has remained heavily involved in Labour politics and visits Mr Blair regularly to advise him on issues that include the party's next general election manifesto.
By Melissa Kite, Deputy Political Editor
(Filed: 05/09/2004)
Link to Story http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/09/05/nshuf05.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/09/05/ixhome.html
Tony Blair is preparing to recall Alan Milburn, the former Health Secretary, to the Cabinet in a government reshuffle, which is due to be announced this week.
Mr Milburn, who resigned last year to spend more time with his family, has agreed to return to frontline politics as party chairman.
Ian McCartney, the current Labour chairman, is expected to be removed after what is viewed at Downing Street as an increasingly poor performance, culminating in Labour's disastrous showing in the local and European elections in June. The Prime Minister hopes that Mr Milburn, a more forceful and media-friendly figure, will improve Labour's public image.
Mr Blair was preparing to unveil the reshuffle on Thursday or Friday, senior Whitehall officials said. The changes will be designed to ensure that the Prime Minister's most valued supporters are in the key government positions ahead of the general election, which is expected next year.
The reshuffle was meant to happen in July, but was scuppered by lengthy negotiations between Mr Blair and Peter Mandelson over what role the former Northern Ireland Secretary should be given in his political comeback. He finally chose to become an EU commissioner.
Mr McCartney's removal is being fiercely opposed by John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, who has warned Mr Blair that the former seaman's popularity with the unions makes him indispensable.
Mr Milburn, by contrast, adopted a confrontational attitude towards the National Health Service unions in his previous Cabinet post. There are also rumblings within the Labour Party about consultancy work that Mr Milburn has carried out since his resignation from the Cabinet for a company called Bridgepoint, which provides private healthcare and which stands to benefit from the Government's private finance initiatives.
However, Mr Blair favours the ultra-loyal Mr Milburn for the post because he is viewed as someone who will be able to communicate effectively on radio and television. Mr McCartney will be compensated with a senior Cabinet Office position that will give him the right to remain at the Cabinet table.
"The feeling is that while Ian McCartney may be able to talk to the unions and the Labour Party, middle England doesn't understand him. Alan would be much better at the spin we need before the election," a senior party member said.
Those tipped for demotion include Andrew Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary, who has failed to impress. According to one senior official, Mr Blair had wanted to give Mr Mandelson the job, with a remit to push through tough reforms on incapacity benefit. Mr Mandelson turned this down.
Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, is one of those being considered for Work and Pensions. If that happens, Patricia Hewitt could become Britain's first female Defence Secretary, having long been tipped for a move from Trade and Industry.
Ruth Kelly, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, is another thought likely to gain promotion, possibly replacing Paul Boateng as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
If Mr Milburn does return, it will be just over a year since he left to spend more time with Ruth Briel and their two young sons.
He has described this new life out of government as "a million times better". Despite such statements, Mr Milburn has remained heavily involved in Labour politics and visits Mr Blair regularly to advise him on issues that include the party's next general election manifesto.