The revolving doors of power

I am not sure if the title is totally suitable for this post however recently I was working on something which led to research how many people had served in certain roles in government during Tony Blair's premiership. As we know since May 1997 Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have been two cabinet posts occupied by the same two people.

John Prescott has been Deputy PM since 1997 [© Crown Copyright 2005]

John Prescott as Deputy Prime Minister was the head of the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions from 1997 and from 2001 was responsible for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister which when created took on some responsibilities from the Cabinet Office and some from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown has been in the role since Blair took office in 1997 but has had seven different Chief Secretaries to the Treasury (Alistair Darling, Stephen Byers, Alan Milburn, Andrew Smith, Paul Boateng, Des Browne & Stephen Timms).

There have been two Secretaries of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Chris Smith & Tessa Jowell).

Three people have served Tony Blair as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Robin Cook, Jack Straw & Margaret Beckett). Jack Straw and Margaret Beckett have been in the cabinet since the Labour party came to power but have served in different roles.

There have been three Secretaries of State for International Development (Clare Short, Valerie Amos & Hilary Benn). Valerie Amos is now Leader of the House of Lords.

Four people have been Secretary of State for the Home Department (Jack Straw, David Blunkett, Charles Clarke & John Reid) since May 1997. John Reid has announced that he will be stepping down when Tony Blair leaves office so we will have our fifth Labour Home Secretary soon.

There have been four Secretaries of State for Defence (George Robertson, Geoff Hoon, John Reid & Des Browne), other then George Robertson the others have also served the cabinet in another role.

Four people have been Secretary of State for Health (Frank Dobson, Alan Milburn, John Reid & Patricia Hewitt). Frank Dobson left the job to run for London Mayor a decision I imagine he regrets and Alan Milburn left to spend more time with his family. Secretary of State for Health is just one of the seven different Cabinet posts John Reid has held since joining the cabinet in 1999.

There have been four Secretaries of State for Wales (Ron Davies, Alun Michael, Paul Murphy & Peter Hain). Alun Michael went on to become the First Minister of Wales although resigned after about nine months in the job. Peter Hain was also Leader of the House of Commons from 2003 to 2005 and has also been Secretary of State for Northern Ireland since 2005.

Five people have been Secretary of State for Education (David Blunkett as Secretary of State for Education and Employment and Estelle Morris, Charles Clarke, Ruth Kelly & Alan Johnson as Secretary of State for Education and Skills). David Blunkett as Secretary of State for Education and Employment is one of the few people who have seen through an entire parliamentary term in one cabinet post.

There have been five Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland (Mo Mowlam, Peter Mandelson, John Reid, Paul Murphy & Peter Hain). Peter Hain has also been Secretary of State for Wales while serving as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Five people have been Secretary of State for Scotland (Donald Dewar, John Reid, Helen Liddell, Alistair Darling &Douglas Alexander). Alistair Darling and Douglas Alexander have served as Secretary of State for Transport simultaneously but separately while they have been Secretary of State for Scotland.

There have been six Secretaries of State for Trade and Industry (Margaret Beckett, Peter Mandelson, Stephen Byers, Patricia Hewitt, Alan Johnson & Alistair Darling). Margaret Beckett, Patricia Hewitt, Alan Johnson & Alistair Darling are still members of the cabinet.

Seven people have been Chief Secretaries to the Treasury (Alistair Darling, Stephen Byers, Alan Milburn, Andrew Smith, Paul Boateng, Des Browne & Stephen Timms). After spells as Chief Secretary to the Treasury Alistair Darling, Stephen Byers, Alan Milburn, Andrew Smith and Des Browne have gone on to become Secretaries of State and run their own departments.

There have been seven Leaders of the House of Commons (Ann Taylor, Margaret Beckett, Robin Cook, John Reid, Peter Hain, Geoff Hoon & Jack Straw). Peter Hain was also Secretary of State for Wales when Leader of the House of Commons. Two of the seven Leaders of the House of Commons have been Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the past.

Seven people have been Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions. Harriet Harman & Alistair Darling were Secretary of State for Social Security and Alistair Darling, Andrew Smith, Alan Johnson, David Blunkett & John Hutton have been Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Tony Blair, John Prescott, Gordon Brown have all had one job since Tony Blair formed his first cabinet in May 1997 while Jack Straw has had three different jobs, Margaret Beckett has had four and Alistair Darling has had five.

To look at who made up the twenty four strong Cabinet put together by Tony Blair in May 1997 and has happened to them since please visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/6428025.stm