Former
chief secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Smith is the new Work and Pensions
secretary following a cabinet reshuffle in the wake of Stephen Byers’
resignation.
Smith
replaces Alistair Darling, who in turn moves across to the Department of
Transport, replacing Byers.
It is
expected that responsibility for local government and the regions will now
split from the transport department and be handed over to deputy Prime Minister
John Prescott.
Smith’s
Treasury position will be filled by Paul Boateng, who will become the country’s
first black cabinet minister.
