Tony Blair, following disappointing local elections, decided to move some people around in his Cabinet,
CNN reports.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke, who was recently forced to apologize for a scandal over the deportation of foreign prisoners was to be replaced by Defense Minister John Reid, a government statement said.
Blair removed Jack Straw as foreign secretary, replacing him with Environment Minister Margaret Beckett -- the first woman in the role.
More below.
Straw moves down a step to the leader of the House of Commons (which CNN fails to name, referring to it as the "lower house of Parliament").
Straw, you may remember, provided the memoriable quote that U.S. plans for a tactical were "completely nuts."
The movement doesn't stop there (because there are alot of spots to fill when you do this).
Des Browne promoted from chief secretary at the Treasury to secretary of defense.
Former defense secretary Geoff Hoon made Cabinet minister for European affairs within Foreign Office.
Blair can't be Bush's poodle. Blair at least has the balls to make changes to his cabinet when he gets into trouble.
Because this diary is so short, I included a poll for your enjoyment. I fully expect Welshman or one of our other members with far more knowledge of British politics than myself to cover this in more detail once they wake up.