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<< back to Update Materials listUpdate 2: June 2005 - The Government after the General Election
The 2005 General Election campaign and its aftermath shifted the balance of power within the Government in favour of Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown and his allies, and against the Prime Minister. Before the campaign started serious efforts had been made to sideline Mr Brown, and media briefings were even suggesting that the Chancellor would be replaced in the post election government. But Labour's lacklustre campaign soon forced the Prime Minister to fight virtually a joint campaign with Mr Brown, and to guarantee that he would not replace the Chancellor if Labour was victorious. More important still, the Prime Minister has confirmed that this was his last General Election campaign as Party Leader. With no chance of a referendum on entry into the Eurozone or on acceptance of the European Constitution in the foreseeable future (see
Update 1) the incentive for Mr Blair to remain has been diminished.
The figure thought most likely to mount a serious challenge to Mr Brown for the succession - David Blunkett - returned to the Cabinet, but the aftermath of his enforced resignation in 2004 in a scandal involving his rich American mistress meant that he had been removed from the picture as a likely future Prime Minister. Like any Prime Minister Mr Blair will not relinquish office easily. Nevertheless, within the next three years we seem likely to witness something not experienced in British politics since Anthony Eden succeeded Winston Churchill as Prime Minister in 1955: the accession of the 'natural' successor to the office of Prime Minister.
In the makeup of the new government - notably the Cabinet - there was intense interest in spotting how the balance between the 'Brownites' and the 'Blairites' had shifted. On the one hand, Mr Blair 'lost' Alan Milburn; on the other, he promoted David Miliband, a long term protégé. But at this level there are few long term stable allies, still less friendships. Action and support is dictated by ambition, and by the pressure on Ministers to make alliances to defend policies and departments. More significant of Mr Blair's weakness was the fact the he had in effect relinquished the freedom to choose his Chancellor. The process of making the new Government was chaotic, with reports of several senior figures, such as Ruth Kelly at Education, resisting the Prime Minister's attempted appointments. A farcical episode involved renaming (rebranding) the Department of Trade and Industry - only for the original name to be restored within a week.
INITIAL MEMBERSHIP OF THE CABINET AFTER THE 2005 GENERAL ELECTION
(For current Cabinet membership see http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page1371.asp)
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service
The Rt Hon Tony Blair MP
Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
The Rt Hon John Prescott MP
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
The Rt Hon Jack Straw MP
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Rt Hon David Blunkett MP
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP
Secretary of State for Transport, and Secretary of State for Scotland
The Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP
Secretary of State for Defence
The Rt Hon Dr John Reid MP
Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons
The Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP
Secretary of State for Health
The Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt MP
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury and Chief Whip
The Rt Hon Hilary Armstrong MP
Secretary of State for the Home Department
The Rt Hon Charles Clarke MP
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and Secretary of State for Wales
The Rt Hon Peter Hain MP
Minister without Portfolio
The Rt Hon Ian McCartney MP
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council
The Rt Hon Baroness Amos
Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor
The Rt Hon Lord Falconer of Thoroton QC
Secretary of State for International Development
The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
The Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP
Secretary of State for Education and Skills
The Rt Hon Ruth Kelly MP
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Minister for the Cabinet Office)
The Rt Hon John Hutton MP
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Rt Hon Des Browne MP
Minister of Communities and Local Government
The Rt Hon David Miliband MP
Source: www.number-10.gov.uk . Reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office under click licence CO1W0000276.
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