Brown brings back 'old hands'

2008-10-03 12:04

London - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Friday undertook a Cabinet reshuffle that saw the departure of Defence Secretary Des Browne and the return to the Cabinet of Peter Mandelson, a senior New Labour figure and current European Union (EU) Trade Commissioner.

The reshaping of the Brown government had been precipitated by the resignation of Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly who was said to have been disillusioned with Brown's leadership.

The replacement of Defence Secretary Browne, who will be succeeded by current Business Secretary John Hutton, is as surprising as the return of Mandelson, seen as an "arch-Blairite" and a highly accomplished political figure, who is understood to be taking over as Business Secretary.

Another "returnee" will be Margaret Beckett, an experienced Labour politician and former Foreign Secretary. Nick Brown, a former Agriculture minister and close ally of Gordon Brown, will also return to the Cabinet, according to unconfirmed reports.

But the return of Mandelson, who has twice resigned from a Labour government under a cloud, was the most surprising move.

Analysts said the reshuffle was clearly aimed at adding some "weight and experience" to the Cabinet, which had been criticised in some quarters for being "too young".

It also showed that the old "Blairite and Brownite" divisions, which had plagued the Labour Party under Tony Blair, had been overcome.

- DPA