The Wardman Wire

Time for a reshuffle?

Are we getting closer to a cabinet reshuffle? I suspect that we could be very close indeed – if not this week, then by the end of next week. Many have suggested that Brown shuffling his pack would be tantamount to rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic. Though this does depend on what he does – a clever, thought out and brazen reshuffle could well be a very smart move. On the other hand, a timid and token reshuffle would be worse than doing nothing at all. If I was Gordon, and thank the sweet Lord I am not, this is what I would do:

The big guns

Firstly, I would sort out the big guns. Brown’s first mistake as PM was to fill his biggest roles with people who were neither big enough nor ready enough for their chosen roles. Why no big positions for some of Labour’s biggest names – Alan Johnson and Jack Straw. Ok, so Jack Straw is Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, but even that is not big enough for one of the most recognisable and respected members of the government.

Straw to No.11

I would have made Jack Straw my Chancellor from the off. And with that, I would have given him full control of the Treasury too, not have the strings pulled by Brown. Of course, Brown is too controlling and easily threatened to have allowed Straw such a high profile and power. Darling has been a disaster as Chancellor and has to go. Yes some will say he is being made a scapegoat for Brown’s failures, which to some extent might be true. But Darling has played a bad hand very badly.

Home Johnson

Alan Johnson should be given a very high profile position. He is seen as in touch with the electorate and is natural in front of the camera. Personally I would put him in at the Home Office. Jacqui Smith has actually done a surprisingly good job, but again she should never have been there in the first place. She should have been promoted to cabinet via a less high profile department to cut her teeth. But I suspect Brown felt a lower profile figure in a high profile role will put the spot light on him and give him a more controlling hand.

The Miliband problem

David Miliband is a tricky one, he was clearly too big for Defra but I do not think ready for the Foreign Office. Sacking him would be a mistake however for the repercussions that would sure to be felt, so he stays on those grounds alone.

Browne Out

Des Browne has long over stayed his welcome at Defence and should be put out to graze for a time. He has been a spectacular failure in his role, yet is the longest serving cabinet minister in a continuous role.

Promotions

I would give promotions to more senior departments and higher profiles to Purnell, Denham and Flint. These three are the next generation of stars in the party and would give a feeling of freshness to a tired looking party. I would allow John Hutton a freer role – there are few in the government who talk more sense and can tap in to the voter better than Hutton. I would also promote Malcolm Wicks, the current Energy Minister, to cabinet. Wicks is, for me, the unsung hero of the government. He is full of common sense, extremely down to earth and very experienced. Why he has not had a bigger role up to now I do not know.

Out!

Out would be Blears and Hoon. Chipmunk and Buff have been punching well above their weight for years and are exactly what turns off the electorate to the Labour party.

The reality

Of course, Brown will not be this brazen if he does have a reshuffle either this week or next. I suspect it will be cosmetic – but what else would you expect from the most tokenistic of PMs this country has ever had – and I am including Blair in that claim too. A post for another day I feel…

Unfortunately, my instinct tells me that Brown will make a couple of small changes with, at best, an increased role for Straw but no sacking of Darling, and he will be rightly charged with rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.