The Cabinet Gordon Brown
Article added on June 28, 2007
  
Gordon Brown (*1951) has not lost time. Today, on June 28, 2007 on his first day as Prime Minister, he presented his cabinet. In a major cabinet reshuffle, he named David Miliband (*1965) as his Foreign Secretary (Minister of Foreign Affairs). Miliband was critical of Blair's disastrous war in Iraq as well as of Blair's support for Israel during its 2006 invasion of Lebanon. Miliband was Minister of the Environment in Blair's last cabinet.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown appointed his long time ally Alistair Darling (*1953) as Chancellor of the Exchequer, the British cabinet minister responsible for economics and finance. Brown himself successfully hold this cabinet post for ten years. His first measure was to give independence to the Bank of England, a decision that reassured the markets and economic leaders about the future financial and economic policies of the Cabinet Blair. Blair and Brown contributed to an economic success with a low unemployment rate, a lot of new jobs created, inflation under control and substantial economic growth. Darling has too continue the Brown legacy.



Further appointments by Gordon Brown to his cabinet include Alan Johnson (*1950) as Health Secretary, Ed Balls (*1967) as Secretary of the newly created Ministry for Children, Schools and Families, Douglas Alexander (*1967) as Minister of State for International Development, Peter Hain (*1950), Blair's former Secretary responsible for Northern Ireland, as Secretary of Work and Pensions as well as Secretary of State for Wales. Brown made Jacqui Smith (*1962), the former chief whip, Britain's first female Home Secretary. John Hutton (*1955) switched from the office of Secretary of Work and Pensions to the new Ministry of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (created out of the former Ministry of Trade and Industry).

Gordon Brown appointed Jack Straw (*1946) as the new Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor or speaker of the House of Lords. Hilary Benn (*1953) will serve as Environment Secretary in the new government. James Purnell (*1970) will take over as Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport. Hazel Blears (*1956) is the new Secretary for Communities and Local Government. Des Browne will remain Defence Secretary.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury and chief whip is Geoff Hoon (*1953). Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is Ed Miliband (*1969), the brother of David Miliband. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is now Shaun Woodward (*1958). Gordon Brown appointed Andrew Burnham (*1970) Chief Secretary to the Treasury. John Denham (*1953) is the Secretary of State for Innovation, University and Skills. Ruth Kelly (*1968) was appointed Secretary of State for Transport.

Gordon Brown will have to compensate his lack of charisma not by spin doctors - on which Tony Blair too heavily relied on - but on sound economic, foreign and other policies.

Blair and Brown have successfully revitalized and modernized first the Labour Party (New Labour) and then Britain (New Britain). Still, a lot of unfinished business is left. Not only the mess in Iraq and the Middle East in general, but on the domestic front too. The National Health Service (NHS) will never be able to deliver as long as it relies on socialist recipes. Since the NHS was a creation of the Labour Party, it is unlikely that Brown will attack this institution of pride for his party. If everything remains the same, the new Health Secretary Alan Johnson will have a mission impossible.

Also attending the cabinet are Tessa Jowell (*1947) as Minister for the Olympics and London, Beverly Hughes as Minister for Children and Youth Justice, Lord Grocott (*1940) as Chief Whip and Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms, Lady Scotland of Asthal (*1955) as Attorney General, Yvette Cooper (*1969) as Minister of Housing, Mark Malloch-Brown (*1953) as Minister for Africa, Asia and the Un, Ian Austin (*1965) and Angela E. Smith (*1959) as Parliamentary private secretaries to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.