Patricia
Hewitt has taken over from Stephen Byers as trade and industry secretary in the
Prime Minister’s cabinet reshuffle over the weekend.
Byers
will take over transport and the regions, while Alistair Darling becomes the
Pensions and Working Age Secretary.
Estelle
Morris takes over from David Blunkett with the new title of Education and
Skills secretary. Blunkett succeeds Jack Straw at the Home Office.
The
Home office will be streamlined, allowing it to focus on tackling crime, the
criminal justice system and asylum. Freedom of information, data protection and
human rights will move to the Lord Chancellor’s Department.
Tessa
Jowell joins the Cabinet as Culture Secretary.
Several
ministers lost their jobs in the reshuffle, including Chris Smith, the Culture
secretary, and Ann Taylor, the former chief whip.
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