8 ministers are out (excluding Blair and the Lords Leader) and there are seven new ministers. The biggest surprise to me is that there are only 4 women M.Ps in the new senior cabinet.

Dropped
1.Lord Falconer
2.Tessa Jowell
3.Hilary Armstrong
4.Margaret Beckett
5.Patricia Hewitt
6.John Reid
7.Stephen Timms
8.John Prescott

New (or returned)
1.Harriet Harman
2.James Purnell
3.Ed Miliband
4.Shaun Woodward
5.Ed Balls
6.Andy Burnham
7.Geoff Hoon

1.Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, 53, lawyer, M.P 1987-

2.Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Andy Burnham, 37, Cabinet Minister Special Advisor, M.A- English, M.P 2001-

3.Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, John Hutton, 52, Senior Law Lecturer, M.P 1992-

4.Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Hilary Benn (male), 53, Union Head of Policy and Communications, M.P 1999-

5.Transport, Ruth Kelly, 39, Bank of England Inflation Report Division Deputy Head, M.SC- Economics, M.P 1997-

6.Schools and Children, Ed Balls, 40, Chief Economic Advisor to the Treasury, M.P 2005-

7.Work and Pensions/Wales, Peter Hain, 57, Communications Workers Union Head of Research, B.A- Economics and Political Science, M.A- Philosophy, M.P 1991-

8.Health, Alan Johnson, 57, Communication Workers Union General Secretary/former Postal Worker, M.P 1997-

9.Culture, Media and Sport, James Purnell, 37, Tony Blair Special Advisor, M.P 2001-

10.Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, 51, Lawyer, M.P 1997-

11.Northern Ireland, Shaun Woodward, 48, B.B.C Broadcaster, M.P 1997- (Conservative M.P 1997-1999)

12.Defence/Scotland, Des Browne, 55, Lawyer, M.P 1997-

13.International Development, Douglas Alexander, 39, Lawyer, M.P 1997-

14.Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, David Miliband, Tony Blair Chief Policy Advisor, M.A- Political Science, M.P 2001-

15.Cabinet Office/Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Ed Miliband, Chair Councillor of Economic Advisors, M.Sc- Economics, M.P 2005-

16.Home Office, Jacqui Smith, 45, High School Economics Teacher and department head, M.P 1997-

17.Justice, Jack Straw, 61, T.V Current Affairs Program Researcher and lawyer, M.P 1979-

18.Chief Whip/Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, Geoff Hoon, 53, Lawyer M.P 1992-

19.Government House Leader/Minister for Women, Harriet Harman, 56, Lawyer and National Council for Civil Liberties Legal Officer, M.P 1982-

20.Lords Leader, Baroness Ashton

21.Attorney General, Baroness Scotland

[ 28 June 2007: Message edited by: Adam T ]

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After stepping down as prime minister, Mr Blair also quit as MP for Sedgefield to become a Middle East peace envoy on behalf of the EU, US, UN and Russia.

This will prompt a by-election, expected to take place in mid-July.

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In the UK, a surprise vacancy occurs and it is a matter of course that the byelection is called that very day with a date set for a few weeks later. Why is it that here in Canada (where apparently we still live in the Stone Age) governments let months or even years go by leaving seats vacant?

We know all about finance ministers being heir apparent and coming in with a lot of promise and energy. They made all the goody announcements for years so of course hey're the most popular. And bthey always folow through with dominant leadership.

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Originally posted by Stockholm:
Why is it that here in Canada (where apparently we still live in the Stone Age) governments let months or even years go by leaving seats vacant?

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Actually Federally and in Ontario a by-election must be called within 6 months of the resignation.

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Six months is way, way, way too long. Why should people be left without representation for any longer than is absolutely necessary.

quote:

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Originally posted by Stockholm:
In the UK, a surprise vacancy occurs and it is a matter of course that the byelection is called that very day with a date set for a few weeks later. Why is it that here in Canada (where apparently we still live in the Stone Age) governments let months or even years go by leaving seats vacant?

I think the NDP ought to make it a policy that anytime a vacancy occurs, the byelection must be called within 24 hours and the date set for no more than 35 days later. Period!!

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I agree there needs to be far less discretion around setting byelection dates, but I think there should be some to avoid exceedingly low turnout byelections in the Holiday Season, or in mid-summer. Perhaps the legislation could read x days after the resignation is received, unless that would mean a date falling in the period July 1 to Sept 15th, or in the period December 1 to January 30th, in which case just after the end of those periods. If there is a need for any discretion, it should rest with the Speaker, not the Prime Minister. Alternatively, there could be a statutory requirement for the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader to agree to a date within wider time frames, say within six months.

quote:

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Originally posted by Stockholm:
In the UK, a surprise vacancy occurs and it is a matter of course that the byelection is called that very day with a date set for a few weeks later. Why is it that here in Canada (where apparently we still live in the Stone Age) governments let months or even years go by leaving seats vacant?

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This isn't true. In fact no date has yet been set for this byelection....just an assumption that it will occur sometime in July. The UK sets no maximum time that a by-election must be held by after the date the seat has become vacant. It is not uncommon for byelections to be grouped together and a period of months can and often does pass before a by-election is called. This is supported both by the link below and the 30 old years I lived in the UK.

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I am also firmly of the belief that all federal and provincial elections, general and byelections, should be held on Saturdays in order to maximize turnout.

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Why not on SUNDAYS when even more people have the day off. Elections are held on Sundays in the following countries (to name a few):

Germany
France
Belgium
Austria
Spain
Portugal
Italy
Hungary
virtually every country in Latin America...

As for byelection, why not make it the job of the chief electoral officer to schedule byelections with the understanding that it be based on the principle that people should not go without representation for any longer than is absolutely necessary.

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Originally posted by Stockholm:
Another idea would to let the political party of the resigned or dead MP appoint a substitute for the period between the vacancy occurring and the date of the byelection - that way no one is without representation for more than a few days?

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Originally posted by Stockholm:
So what? In the US people vote for Senators as individuals, but if a senator dies or resigns, the state governor appoints a temporary replacement until a special election can take place.

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the parallels as many have pointed out are uncanny, esp. with his long long wait as No.2 man

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Originally posted by Geneva:

Q.: does Gordon Brown = Paul Martin?

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A couple of variances between the two.

1) While Chretien and Martin were rivals from the start - and representing rival wings of the party - both Blair and Brown began as acolytes to the previous Labour leader, John Smith. And at Smith's untimely demise, they agreed among themselves that Blair should seek the leadership first and that they should plan for Brown to succeed.

2) While Brown and Brown's people were anxious for Blair to clear the way, Brown never attempted a coup de party type breakdown the way Martin (or at least Martin's people did prior to the 2000 election.

3) While Martin inherited a party that seemed destined to go on winning forever, Brown inherits a party that, in some polls, has already begun to be overtaken by the principle opposition party.

And the most important difference?