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Brown ministry
2007–2010
Brown (2009)
Date formed	27 June 2007 (2007-06-27)
Date dissolved	11 May 2010 (2010-05-11)
People and organisations
Head of state	Elizabeth II
Head of government	Gordon Brown
Deputy head of government	[note 1]
Member party	Labour Party
Status in legislature	Majority
Opposition cabinet	Cameron Shadow Cabinet
Opposition party	Conservative Party
Opposition leader	David Cameron
History
Outgoing election	2010 general election
Legislature term(s)	54th UK Parliament
Budget(s)	2008 budget 2009 budget 2010 budget
Outgoing formation	2010 government formation
Predecessor	Third Blair ministry
Successor	Cameron–Clegg coalition

Gordon Brown formed the Brown ministry after being invited by Queen Elizabeth II to begin a new government following the resignation of the previous Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, on 27 June 2007. He took office as Prime Minister, a title he would hold until his resignation on 11 May 2010. In his inaugural cabinet, Brown appointed the United Kingdom's first female Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith.

Background[edit]

In comparison with Tony Blair's last Cabinet, Brown retained seventeen ministers including himself.

Alistair Darling replaced Brown as Chancellor of the Exchequer while his portfolio at Trade and Industry was renamed Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and given to John Hutton. Hutton was in turn replaced as Work Secretary by Peter Hain, who kept on as Wales Secretary but not as Northern Ireland Secretary which went to Shaun Woodward.

David Miliband was promoted from Environment Secretary to Foreign Secretary and was replaced in that brief by Hilary Benn, then International Development Secretary. Douglas Alexander filled Benn's seat whilst his posts as Transport and Scotland Secretaries were given to Ruth Kelly and Des Browne, respectively, the latter of whom stayed on as Defence Secretary. Jack Straw became the first MP Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, declaring it a new Great Office of State. Amid speculation that Brown would appoint him as Deputy Prime Minister and/or First Secretary of State, neither title was conferred on any member. The other name that cropped up for the two roles was the new Labour Party Chair and Deputy Leader, Harriet Harman, who made a return to Cabinet after nine years as Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal and was given the additional brief of Minister for Women and Equality. It was believed that the Government Equalities Office would become its own department headed by an Equalities Secretary, however, it was not given Secretary of State status. The previous home of the Equalities Office and of Ruth Kelly was the Communities Secretary, which was given to Hazel Blears, whose previous role as Minister without Portfolio was not given due to Harman's (the new party chair) full inclusion in Cabinet. Harman's strongest competitor for the deputy leadership, Alan Johnson, became the Health Secretary while his previous role as Education Secretary was split into a Schools Secretary and a Universities Secretary and respectively given to Ed Balls and John Denham.

Former Commons Chief Whip, Jacqui Smith was given a substantial promotion as the first female Home Secretary and was replaced by Geoff Hoon, who was promoted from being the Europe Minister. His successor, Jim Murphy, was not given a provision to attend Cabinet as he was.

Tessa Jowell lost her place at the table when James Purnell became Culture Secretary but was given the right to attend Cabinet as the Olympics Minister and also became Paymaster General. The last holdover from Blair's government was The Lord Grocott, who stayed on as Chief Whip in the Lords and Captain of the Gentlemen at Arms. Balls' wife, Yvette Cooper, was given the right to attend Cabinet in her role as Housing Minister as was David Miliband's brother, Ed Miliband, who became Cabinet Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Beverley Hughes retained her role Children Minister and was elevated to Cabinet, but was only allowed to sit in that body when her policy area was on the agenda. Additionally, The Baroness Ashton of Upholland and Andy Burnham entered Cabinet as Lords Leader and Lord President of the Council and Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

The Baroness Scotland of Asthal and The Lord Malloch-Brown were given the right to attend Cabinet as Attorney General and Africa, Asia and UN Minister.

The last alteration to the Cabinet's composition was the removal of the Minister for Social Exclusion and the Minister of State for Trade from attending.

Cabinets[edit]

27 June 2007 – 24 January 2008[edit]

First reshuffle: 24 January 2008 – 3 October 2008[edit]

Second reshuffle: 3 October 2008 – 5 June 2009[edit]

Third reshuffle: 5 June 2009 – 11 May 2010[edit]

List of ministers[edit]

Key:

Prime Minister[edit]

Business, Innovation and Skills[edit]

Cabinet Office[edit]

Children, Schools and Families[edit]

Communities and Local Government[edit]

Culture, Media and Sport[edit]

Defence[edit]

Energy and Climate Change[edit]

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs[edit]

Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs[edit]

Health[edit]

Home Affairs[edit]

International Development[edit]

Justice[edit]

Law Officers[edit]

Northern Ireland Office[edit]

Parliament[edit]

Scotland Office[edit]

Transport[edit]

Treasury[edit]

Wales Office[edit]

Work and Pensions[edit]

Whips[edit]

See also[edit]

• Government of the United Kingdom


• Cabinet of the United Kingdom


• Blair ministry

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

Sources

External links

• 
  Full List of Government Ministers as of 29 June 2007 from the 10 Downing Street website.


• 
  Full List of Government Ministers as of 25 January 2008 from the 10 Downing Street website.


• 
  Her Majesty's Government as of 27 June 2007 from the 10 Downing Street website.


• 
  Her Majesty's Government as of 9 June 2009 from the 10 Downing Street website.


• 
  In full: Brown's government as of 27 June 2009 from BBC World News
  


• 
  Ministerial Appointments as of 3 October 2008 from the 10 Downing Street website.


• 
  Ministerial Appointments as of 5 June 2009 from the 10 Downing Street website.