On 27 July 1999, British Prime Minister Tony Blair held his first major cabinet reshuffle of his government.
Background It was considered that Health secretary Frank Dobson would stand in the 2000 London mayoral election against Labour-turned-Independent Ken Livingstone. But he denied accusations of him being moved out of government.
Mo Mowlam expected to be replaced as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by Peter Mandelson but this did not happen until October 1999. The reshuffle was anticipated as being the cull of Old Labour and the promotion of Blairites from the 1997 general election. It was reported that Alastair Campbell, Blair's Press Secretary, had influence over changes at Cabinet level.
The reshuffle was delayed by a week in anticipation of a strong Labour performance in the 1999 Eddisbury by-election.
Cabinet-level changes
Margaret Beckett becomes Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons The Baroness Jay of Paddington becomes Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women Stephen Byers becomes Chief Secretary to the Treasury Ann Taylor becomes Chief Whip, which became a cabinet position Jack Cunningham becomes Cabinet Office Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Nick Brown becomes Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Alistair Darling becomes Secretary of State for Social Security Paul Murphy promoted to Secretary of State for Wales from Minister of State for Northern Ireland Peter Mandelson moves from being Minister Without Portfolio to being Trade and Industry Secretary John Reid becomes Transport Minister, which is no longer a cabinet position (although Reid will continue attending cabinet meetings) David Simon, Baron Simon of Highbury left as the trade minister responsible for preparing Britain joining the euro.
Ivor Richard, Harriet Harman, David Clark and Gavin Strang left the cabinet
The President of the Board of Trade ceased to be a title used by the Trade Secretary
Junior ministerial changes Colour key MinisterPosition before reshufflePosition after reshufflePeter Kilfoyle Minister of State for the Cabinet Office Minister of State at the Office of Public ServiceParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for DefenceIan McCartneyMinister of State for Competitiveness Minister of State for the Cabinet Office Minister of State at the Office of Public ServiceBarbara RocheFinancial Secretary to the TreasuryMinister of State for Asylum and ImmigrationStephen TimmsMinister of State for PensionsFinancial Secretary to the TreasuryTony LloydMinister of State for Foreign AffairsBackbench MPJohn BattleMinister of State for Trade and IndustryMinister of State for Foreign AffairsBrian WilsonMinister of State for ScotlandMinister of State for Trade and IndustryJoyce QuinMinister of State for EuropeMinister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodGeoff HoonMinister of State for AfricaMinister of State for EuropeGareth WilliamsMinister of State for Prisons Attorney General for England and Wales Attorney General for Northern IrelandCharles ClarkeParliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and EmploymentMinister of State for PrisonsKate HoeyParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Home AffairsMinister for SportTony BanksMinister for SportBackbench MPSteve BassamBackbench peerParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Home AffairsGeorge HowarthParliamentary Under Secretary of State for Prisons, Drugs & ElectionsParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern IrelandHelen LiddellMinister of State for TransportMinister of State for Trade and IndustryGus MacdonaldParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for ScotlandMinister of State for TransportHilary ArmstrongMinister of State for Housing and PlanningNick RaynsfordMinister for London Minister of State for Housing and Planning Minister of State for the RegionsRichard CabornMinister of State for the RegionsMinister of State for TradeKeith HillAssistant Whip Minister for London Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for TransportAlan MealeParliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy, Environment & the RegionsBackbench MPBeverley HughesBackbench MPParliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Environment, Transport and the RegionsJeff RookerMinister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodMinister of State for PensionsBernard DonoughueParliamentary Under Secretary of State for Farming and the Food IndustryBackbench MPHelene HaymanParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for HealthParliamentary Under Secretary of State for Farming and the Food IndustryDoug HendersonMinister of State for the Armed ForcesJohn SpellarParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for DefenceMinister of State for the Armed ForcesJohn GilbertMinister of State for Defence ProcurementBackbench MPElizabeth SymonsParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsMinister of State for Defence ProcurementGeorge MudieParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and EmploymentBackbench MPJacqui SmithBackbench MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and EmploymentMichael WillsBackbench MPParliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and EmploymentMalcolm WicksBackbench MPMinister for Lifelong Learning in the Department for Education and EmploymentGisela StuartBackbench MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for HealthAlan JohnsonBackbench MPParliamentary Under Secretary of State for Small Firms, Trade & IndustryKeith VazParliamentary Under Secretary of State to the Lord Chancellors DepartmentMinister for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsDavid LockBackbench MPParliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Lord Chancellors DepartmentJohn SewelParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for ScotlandBackbench MPCalum MacDonaldParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for ScotlandBackbench MPPeter HainParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for WalesMinister of State for Africa, the Middle East and South AsiaJon Owen JonesParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for WalesDavid HansonAssistant WhipParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for WalesGerry SutcliffeBackbench MPAssistant WhipPhilip HuntLord-in-waitingParliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of HealthWilly BachBackbench MP (given peerage on day of reshuffle)Lord-in-waiting
Reception The reshuffle was described as "problematic". Journalist Anne Perkins wrote in favour of scrapping cabinet reshuffles.
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