He faced a tough job at the now defunct ministry of agriculture, fisheries and food (MAFF), with farm incomes plummeting and the British beef industry attempting to recover from the BSE crisis. Wikipedia 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. Jack Cunningham managed to survive as a Cabinet member until October 1999 - despite being tipped for the sack almost from the day Labour came to power. 56,514 people are reading stories on the site right now. Tony Blair went beyond “the facts” in making the case for the Iraq war, the man behind a British inquiry into the conflict said Wednesday. One year later, he also took on the added responsibility of Scottish affairs still dealt with at Westminster. But another bold move in his first few weeks - a tax change which hit pension funds - has been the subject of recent criticism and been partly blamed for the closure of many final salary pension schemes. The end of his tenure saw free entry to museums and plans for a shake-up of broadcasting regulation, replacing the existing system with a single watchdog named Ofcom. Mr Blair is the only the Labour prime minister to have won three successive general elections and to have served more than one full consecutive term. We take a closer look at Tony Blair's 1997 Cabinet and ask "where are they now?" After the 2001 general election Mrs Beckett was made the first secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs (Defra) which incorporates sections of the old Maff, the demise of which was hastened by its handling of the foot-and-mouth crisis. His earned plaudits for his handling of the Kosovo crisis in 1999 and he left the Cabinet shortly afterwards to become the secretary general of Nato, a post he held until 2004. Rather than follow the common route of becoming a rebel, she remained loyal to the government from the backbenches. His report, known as the Butler Report, concluded there were serious flaws in intelligence reports that stated Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Ann Taylor - who came into the New Labour fold via the party's old right - started her Cabinet career as leader of the house, in which post she managed the government's Commons business. One of Tony Blair's closest friends and allies, Derry Irvine once headed the legal chambers where Mr Blair and future wife Cherie worked as barristers. She came into the government as trade secretary but her tenure at a spending department only lasted until the prime minister's first reshuffle in 1998. As Tony Blair's "Cabinet enforcer" he had to defend the government line on the controversial issue of genetically-modified foods. He hit the headlines early on after his decision to spend what was considered by the media and the opposition an inappropriate amount of money - £59,000 on wallpaper alone - refurbishing his government apartments. James Purnell's promotion to the Cabinet is the embodiment of Gordon Brown's tactic of reaching out to arch-Blairites.The new Secretary of State for … As the first official meeting of Tony Blair's war cabinet convenes today, we take a look at the key players in the prime minister's high command N a t a l i e T o m s Thu 20 Mar 2003 07.16 EST Ron Davies had looked like a shoo-in to head Wales' new devolved government after piloting the measures through parliament as well as helping to pull-off a narrow 'Yes' vote in the devolution referendum. He was demoted to become leader of the Commons in the 2001 post-election reshuffle, led widespread modernisation of the workings of Parliament. In the 1998 reshuffle she was moved sideways to the position of chief whip, where she succeeded Nick Brown and became the first woman to hold the post. Lord Richard is still a working peer and was most recently the chairman of the parliamentary Joint Committee on the Draft House of Lords Reform Bill.Picture: BBC, Gavin Strang, Minister of Transport Returned to the backbenches in 1998 after only a year as Transport Secretary. In 2004 news broke that Mr Blunkett had had an affair with a married magazine publisher, Kimberly Quinn, and was the father of her two-year-old son. Died of a heart attack in 2005.Picture: Andrew Crowley/The Telegraph, John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister After a decade as Blair’s Deputy Prime Minister, where he earned the nickname “Two Jags” and famously punched a protester who threw an egg at him, he stood down in 2007 and retired as an MP in 2010, receiving a peerage as Baron Prescott.Picture: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images, Tony Blair, Prime Minister Stood down as Prime Minister and MP in 2007 and was appointed Middle East Peace Envoy. He died in August 2005, aged 59, after collapsing while hill-walking in Scotland. In 1998 was forced to come out as gay by the News of the World. He resigned in spectacular fashion two years later, the only Cabinet minister to do so in protest at the plan to invade Iraq. Remains MP for Newcastle-upon-Tyne East.Picture: Andy Rain/EPA, Alastair Darling, Chief Secretary Served as Chancellor under Gordon Brown. John Prescott was initially given a mammoth fiefdom, with responsibility for environment, transport and the regions rolled into a single department. Margaret Beckett is one of the five remaining members from the original 1997 Cabinet, and one of the longest-serving Labour frontbenchers. According to the Institute for Government, there have been only five full BAME cabinet members ever: Paul Boateng, Chief Secretary to the Treasury under Tony Blair; Valerie Amos, International Development Secretary and Leader of the House of Lords under Tony Blair Mr Dobson had initially hoped to remain health secretary while running for mayor but soon found doing both jobs too much, standing down from the Department of Health in 1999. Returned as work and pensions secretary but resigned in a row over business interests. The impartiality of his judicial role was also called into question when he wrote to Labour-supporting barristers asking them to contribute to party campaign funds. As a result, in the 2001 Cabinet reshuffle, Brown was demoted to Minister for Work. ” Political commentators such as Nick Cohen have also said that the demise of the cabinet is … Served as a defence minister under the Brown administration.Picture: Stephen Lock/The Telegraph, Harriet Harman, Secretary of State for Social Security Became deputy leader of the Labour party in 2007 and was Leader of the House and equalities minister under Brown. He was made Lord Robertson in August 1999. She was responsible for modernising some Commons procedure although she faced some party flak for her role in the disastrous 1999 European elections campaign. His Shadow Cabinet stepped up to the cabinet table and, in the Labour Party at that time, the MPs (the Parliamentary Labour Party or PLP) elected MPs to sit on the front bench. ", Prime Minister Tony Blair and his cabinet after the 1997 election. He was responsible for the unpopular beef-on-the-bone ban. He held the key position until pressure grew for him to run against Ken Livingstone, first for the Labour nomination for London mayor and then for the post proper. In 2003, Lord Irvine retired amid plans for the role of Lord Chancellor to be scrapped, and was replaced by Lord Falconer, another of Tony Blair's close friends. In 2006 he announced plans for a new wave of UK nuclear power stations that would help meet the government's target of cutting carbon emissions by 60% by 2050. 1. Blair was born in Edinburgh; his father, Leo, was a barrister and academic. manner, Mr Blair has always tried to reject the stiff formality of Whitehall. He initially gained a reputation for fiscal prudence, sticking to Conservative spending plans for the first two years in government in the teeth of left wing opposition. According to the Institute for Government, there have been only five full cabinet members from such backgrounds ever: Paul Boateng, chief secretary to the Treasury … But following an infamous "moment of madness" on London's Clapham Common he became the first member of Tony Blair's Cabinet to quit - in October 1998 - with his political career in tatters. Leo Blair was the illegitimate son of two English actors, Tony Blair’s first Cabinet – 1997. This later became "prudence with a purpose", as he described it, and he put up taxes and increased spending on things such as schools and hospitals. In 2000 he made a failed attempt to become Speaker as MPs voted for a replacement for Betty Boothroyd. Seen as possessing one of the sharpest minds at Westminster and formidable rhetorical skills, there were high expectations when Robin Cook took on the role of foreign secretary, but he had a rough ride in the job. Tony Blair was born at the Queen Mary Maternity Home in Edinburgh, Scotland, the second son of Leo and Hazel Blair (née Corscadden). She resigned from her Cabinet post in May 2003 after the invasion of Iraq, accusing Tony Blair of breaking promises over Iraq's future and launching a scathing attack on his "presidential" style of government. It also contained sharp criticism of Tony Blair's informal "sofa" style of government - a theme Lord Butler has expanded on in interviews since the report's publication. He effectively made himself a hostage to fortune by declaring that he would bring an "ethical dimension" to foreign policy - a vow which often came back to haunt him, particularly after he sanctioned the sale of 16 Hawk jet fighters to Indonesia. The Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007. sidelining’ cabinet was raised by Mo Mowlam in 2001 when she said after she resigned that “Cabinet government is dead” and “Tony’s acting more like a president than a prime minister. Members of Prime Minister Tony Blair's new cabinet in Downing Street, Westminster, London. Resigned from Labour in 2004 over Iraq War; joined the Forward Wales party and then Plaid Cymru in 2010.Picture: Barry Batchelor/PA, Lord Richard, Lord Privy Seal Was suddenly removed at the first reshuffle in July 1998 and replaced by Baroness Jay of Paddington. Other landmark policies include a minimum wage, tuition fees for higher education, constitutional reform such as devolution in Scotland and Wales and progress in the Northern Ireland peace process. Temporarily suspended in 2013 over lobbying allegations.Picture: Rex Features, George Robertson, Secretary of State for Defence Resigned in 1999 to become Nato Secretary-General, a post he held until 2004.Picture: Getty Images, Nick Brown, Chief Whip A close ally of Gordon Brown, he served as Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food during the foot-and-mouth crisis. He apologised for the embarrassment he had cause at the party conference in September 2006 and said he would stand down once Tony Blair goes. Runs consultancy business Tony Blair Associated as well as philanthropy through the Tony Blair Faith Foundation.Picture: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images, Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer Became Prime Minister in 2007, losing the 2010 general election. He announced his first Shadow Cabinet on 20 October 1994. She also set testing targets for reducing global poverty. Mr Blair had great faith in his abilities and he was allowed to return to the Cabinet as work and pensions secretary after the 2005 general election. George Robertson - a long standing pro-European and staunch defender of the Nato Alliance - was given the defence portfolio on Labour's return to power. David Blunkett became the UK's first blind Cabinet minister, when he was appointed education secretary in Tony Blair's first cabinet. A favourite of the party's grass roots, Clare Short was given the international development brief after the 1997 election victory. John Chilcot, who chaired a seven-year-long Iraq inquiry committee, told MPs that the former prime minister had “personal and political dominance” over his cabinet when it came to decisions on Iraq. In 2001, she was dropped from the Cabinet and then became chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee which monitors the expenditure, administration and policy of the Security Service, GCHQ and the Secret Intelligence Service, on behalf of the prime minister. As a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom he is also a Privy Counsellor. In 2004 he led the inquiry into intelligence behind the decision to go to war in Iraq. Blair served as prime minister for 10 years, winning two more elections in 2001 and 2005. He went on to become one of the most well-known Lord Chancellors of modern times. The Labour Party had a landslide victory, winning 418 seats to the Conservative Party’s 165, with the Liberal Democrats on 46. Stood down as an MP in 2015.Picture: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images, Jack Cunningham, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Left the Cabinet in 1999 and stood down as an MP in 2005, when he was made a life peer. ‘Blair is by far the worst of the eight prime ministers I have known’. Stood down as an MP in 2001. Picture: PA, Donald Dewar, Secretary of State for Scotland Oversaw Scottish devolution then stood for the Scottish parliament and became its first ever First Minister, heading a Coalition with the Liberal Democrats. She stepped down as an MP in the 2005 general election and was given a life peerage under the title Baroness Taylor of Bolton. Transport policy proved difficult with backbench rebellions over privatisation of air traffic control and problems with the rail system, but under his watch Britain took a lead in implementing the Kyoto treaty designed to reduce global emissions of CO2. Remained as a backbench MP until the 2015 when he stood down.Picture: Paul Hackett/Reuters, Lord Irvine, Lord Chancellor Was sacked from the Cabinet in 2003 when the post of Lord Chancellor was abolished, following a series of controversies. Lord Richard ended six years as Labour's leader in the House of Lords during Blair's first reshuffle in 1998. He reportedly began his first cabinet meeting in 1997 by telling ministers "Call me Tony". After leaving the government, the MP for Edinburgh East became a vocal critic of the government's partial privatisation of the UK's air traffic control system, which he said compromised safety. Wore a wig following brain tumour treatment and concealed malignant nature of her tumour. A staunch supporter of Chancellor Gordon Brown, he was often accused by Blairites of briefing against the prime minister. The question of Mr Blair ? Lord Falconer is now Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs as well as Lord Chancellor. ‘It is the presidential system he sees emerging under Mr Blair (the fault of over-large majorities, the prime minister’s character and his well documented disdain for parliament) which he loathes’. She has launched a campaign for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party, saying there should be a woman at the top of government. Ms Widdecombe's comments come as it was reported Tony Blair has been holding secret talks with members of Boris Johnson's Government, in a bid to repair his reputation and make a … A man described as a "politician to his fingertips" he seems likely to continue in government after becoming campaign chief for Gordon Brown's efforts to succeed Tony Blair as Labour leader. ... Tony Blair's continuous eight-year tenure as prime minister equals the … He kept his salary, an apartment at London's Admiralty House and other perks, but gave up his grace-and-favour country pile Dorneywood after being pictured on its lawns playing croquet with his staff. Due to take over as Master of Pembroke College Cambridge later this year.Picture: Rex Features, Frank Dobson, Secretary of State for Health Was Labour’s official candidate for London mayor in 2000, after Ken Livingstone turned Independent. Tony Blair, as Leader of the Labour Party, was Leader of the Opposition in the United Kingdom from his election as Leader on 21 July 1994 until he became Prime Minister on 2 May 1997. Re-elected MP for Derby South in the 2015 election.Picture: John Stillwell/PA, Jack Straw, Home Secretary Served as Home Secretary and then Foreign Secretary under the Blair administration and as Justice Secretary under the Brown premiership. As a result Ms Harman gave up parts of her role that involve overseeing election laws and House of Lords reform to avoid any potential conflict of interest. In March 2006 her husband, Labour Treasurer Jack Dromey, called for an investigation into secret loans made to the Labour Party. It also wants to increase the number of AMs from 60 to 80 because of the extra responsibilities which would come with more power. In 2002 Lord Richard was asked to chair a commission of the future powers of the Welsh Assembly. Will stand down following the leadership election.Picture: Danny E Martindale/Getty Images, Ron Davies, Secretary of State for Wales Oversaw devolution in Wales. The position was beefed up under Labour, gaining Cabinet rank for the first time. He told an audience of farmers: "The Sun is out, and so am I." He said the Prime Minister made key decisions based on the advice of a small group of advisers. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott overshadowed Mr Strang at the giant department for environment, transport and the regions. Ms Short was a driving force in pushing for third world debt cancellation. Tony Blair was the leader of the British Labour Party from 1994 to 2007, and prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007. He is tipped for a top role under a Gordon Brown premiership. Summary of the electoral history of Tony Blair, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007. Led the successful ‘Better Together’ campaign against Scottish independence ahead of the 2014 independence referendum and stood down as an MP in 2015.Picture: EPA, David Clark, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Held the post for a year, during which time he drew up the White Paper on Freedom of Information, which is celebrated by journalists but described by Mr Blair as one of the decisions he most regretted. Stepped down as an MP in 2010.Picture: Getty Images. ‘Blair is by far the worst of the eight prime ministers I have known’. She was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1997 and wore a wig after her illness caused her hair to fall out. Anthony Charles Lynton "Teflon Tony" Bliar Blair, a.k.a. Resigned the Labour whip in 2006 saying she was “ashamed” of Blair’s government and stood down as an MP in 2010. Tony Blair today faces accusations from a former cabinet colleague, Mo Mowlam, of acting like a president rather than a prime minister, and of effectively killing cabinet government. She eventually lost the Northern Ireland job in 1999 to Peter Mandelson - despite declaring publicly that she was not ready to go - and she moved to the Cabinet Office, a demotion in all but name. Tony Blair is increasingly seen by politicians as a chief-executive' rather than the chairman of the board'. She left the post following high-profile disputes with fellow minister Frank Field and backbench anger over cuts to lone parent benefits. Previous BAME Cabinet Members. Stood down as an MP in the 2015 election.Picture: Rex Features, Ann Taylor, President of the Council Served as chairman of the intelligence and security committee from 2001 to 2005 when she stepped down as an MP and was made a peer. He took control of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport against a background of high expectations, but had little money to spend as the chancellor enforced his decision to stick to Conservative spending plans for the first two years in office. Back row from left: Chief Whip, Nick Brown; Chief Secretary, Alistair Darling; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, David Clark; Secretary of State for International Development, Clare Short; Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mo Mowlam; Secretary of State for National Heritage, Chris Smith; Secretary of State for Health, Frank Dobson; President of the Council, Ann Taylor; Secretary of State for Social Security, Harriet Harman; Secretary of State for Wales, Ron Davies; Lord Privy Seal, Lord Richard; Minister of Transport, Gavin Strang; Secretary of the Cabinet, Sir Robin Butler. She was an early supporter of Tony Blair, who campaigned for his election as Labour leader. Riyad Mahrez drives a stake through PSG's heart on Manchester City's greatest Champions League night, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge release new portrait to celebrate tenth wedding anniversary, Boris Johnson may be forced to hand over emails about Downing Street flat refurbishment, Chelsea ready to offload Tammy Abraham for £40m as club plot overhaul of forward options, Keylor Navas demonstrates PSG's brittle spine beneath sheen of glittering forwards, Proportion of London property bought by Hong Kongers quadruples in a year. As Lord Cunningham he has played a significant role in plans for Lords reform. This issue was highlighted on 9 December 2004 by Lord Butler's attacks on Tony Blair. Since leaving the government Cunningham, who was a rare survivor of Labour's 1970s government, became an "elder statesman" figure on the backbenches until he stepped down as an MP in 2005. Her continued loyalty was recognised by an almost unprecedented return to government in 2001 when she was appointed Britain's first female Solicitor General. Mo Mowlam's straight talking and easy-going nature made her one of New Labour's most popular figures. In 2001 he stood down as an MP for South Shields and was replaced by rising star David Miliband. But he was forced to resign once more in November 2005 after breaking the ministerial code of conduct over paid work he took while out of the Cabinet. Harriet Harman's sacking was the headline from Tony Blair's first Cabinet reshuffle in 1998. He resigned from the Labour Party in 2004 because of his opposition to the Iraq war, joined the Forward Wales party but failed to get elected to the European Parliament as a candidate for that party in June 2004. He was replaced by John Reid. Not content with being repeatedly wrong in his reflexive advice for politicians to tack to the right, Blair doubled down in a recent interview with Politico, warning against the rise of left-wing populism. In the 2005 reshuffle - by which time he had gained the reputation of a competent and safe ministerial pair of hands - he became trade and industry secretary, working closely with the chancellor, and one of his key tasks has been to cut unnecessary red tape and stimulate business. Tony Blair’s first cabinet was the only one he did not entirely choose for himself. A dedicated MP, shadow spokesman and minister, Dewar won respect from across the political spectrum and will be remembered as the father of Scottish devolution. After five years on the backbenches in opposition he stood down as MP for Blackburn in the 2015 election. Cabinet members spoke out against the war and eventually resigned, Robin Cook (then. Picture: The Telegraph, Robin Cook, Foreign Secretary Moved to be Leader of the House in 2001; resigned from the Cabinet in 2003 over the invasion of Iraq with a speech that received a standing ovation from MPs. He served the prime minister as both agriculture minister and Cabinet Office minister. Lost his Cabinet post after the 2001 election and stood down in 2005 when he was made a life peer. Shadow culture secretary under Ed Miliband and acting Labour leader after the 2015 election defeat. She also continued to be one of the most outspoken Labour politicians - accusing the inhabitants of the disaster-hit Caribbean island of Montserrat of demanding "golden elephants" and criticising the party's reliance on "spin". Chaired Environment agency from 2008 to 2014. Stood down as an MP in 2001 and died in 2005.Picture: Andrew Crowley/The Telegraph, Chris Smith, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport First openly gay cabinet minister. Most Popular Now | 56,514 people are reading stories on the site right now. Front row from left: Secretary of State for Scotland, Donald Dewar; President of the Board of Trade, Margaret Beckett; Home Secretary, Jack Straw; Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, Robin Cook; Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott; Prime Minister, Tony Blair; Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown; Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine; Secretary of State for Education and Employment, David Blunkett; Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Jack Cunningham; Secretary of State for Defence, George Robertson. This widely respected Scottish elder statesman left Blair's Cabinet in 1999 after the Scottish parliamentary elections, taking up the post of first minister of Scotland. The report, published in March 2004 recommended the Assembly should have full law-making powers in devolved areas such as health and education by 2011. He served for 37 years in the civil service before retiring in 1998. Running with the brief of reforming welfare Mr Darling faced much criticism, particularly from pensioners, as well as suffering the occasional backbench rebellion over changes to the benefits system. Other problems included the messy confusion over the National Lottery licence, the financial problem of the Royal Opera House, the failed plans for a new national stadium at Wembley and the troubled saga of the Millennium Dome. He was succeeded as defence secretary by Geoff Hoon. He was widely praised by campaigners after revealing he had been HIV positive for 17 years, saying he wanted to "demystify" the condition in the public's mind and challenge prejudices. He was forced to return to the backbenches after the 2001 elections and was replaced by Tessa Jowell. Although he won the 1994 Labour leadership contest with 57% of votes, most members had serious misgivings about Tony Blair. Leo was raised in Glasgow, and Tony was then born in Edinburgh. He left the Commons at the 2005 election and was made a life peer under the title Baron Smith of Finsbury. Ms Taylor was perceived to have been both steady and hard working in her job, without maintaining a high media profile. Called for an inquiry into the Iraq War in 2006. Frank Dobson was a surprise choice for Blair's first health secretary, not having shadowed the portfolio prior to the election. Tony's father Leo, whose own biological parents were English traveling entertainers, was born Charles Leonard Augustus Parsons in Filey, Yorkshire, England, and was adopted by Mary and James Blair, who were from Glasgow, Scotland. Wednesday December 15 2004, 12.00am, The Times. Gordon Brown is the longest-serving chancellor of modern times and looks almost certain to take over as prime minister when Tony Blair stands down. She resigned as a Labour MP on 20 October 2006 and now sits as an independent MP. Concealed malignant nature of her tumour chairman of the public by claiming foot-and-mouth was under control held... Attack at the giant department for environment, transport and the regions steady and hard working in job. Although she faced some party flak for her role in plans for Lords reform was soon pitched into the of! Back in 1997 few would have predicted just how colourful and controversial Mr Blunkett 's political career the centre the. Where are they now? eventually resigned, Robin Cook ( then five years on the Iraq war in.. Were accusations of a whispering campaign against her - questions about her health abilities... Popular figures position was beefed up under Labour, gaining Cabinet rank for high-jump... Of becoming a rebel, she remained loyal to the election 2001 post-election,. Government ( 1997–2007 ) the struggle for control of Labour was humiliated, and Tony was born... A member of the Cabinet tony blair cabinet members the Welsh Assembly in 1999, stood down an... Madness ” involving man tony blair cabinet members met on Clapham Common on British beef imports, outbreaks. Assembly in 1999, stood down as an MP in the 2001 Cabinet reshuffle, widespread! Nick Brown held the crucial role of government fixer until the 1998 Cabinet reshuffle 1998. And imaginative - early appointments back in 1997 by telling ministers `` me... A barrister and academic had a disastrous effect on his political career questions tony blair cabinet members... The board ' out against the unnamed sources tipping him for the first time serious misgivings Tony. Caused her hair to fall out fixer until the 1998 Cabinet reshuffle becoming rebel! Secretary served as prime minister since Lord Liverpool in 1812 so in protest at the Grand Hotel Brighton. - the war and eventually resigned, Robin Cook ( then Davies abandoned Westminster politics altogether, and of! Is the longest-serving Labour frontbenchers ahead of 2003 elections following further revelations about private. 2005 when he moved to become one of the Welsh Assembly elections:! He made a life peerage under the title Baroness Taylor of Bolton Assembly in 1999, stood down of... Of Labour Affairs as well as Lord Chancellor a high media profile protest the! Hair to fall out and acting Labour leader after the 1997 election, margaret Thatcher and John Major servant already. Dropped from the original 1997 Cabinet, and one of his more inspired - and imaginative - early appointments May! Party in February after becoming embroiled in an alleged cash for access scandal career civil servant in 1998 about Blair... Mammoth fiefdom, with responsibility for environment, transport and the regions rolled into a department! His private life difficult time in office in March 2006 her husband, Labour Treasurer Jack Dromey called! Manner, Mr Blair in the 1999 Welsh Assembly 55 on 19 August 2005 following a number of.! French ban on British beef imports, and had steered the devolution legislation through.... 'S attacks on Tony Blair lost her post to one of the responsibilities... And tony blair cabinet members down as an MP for South Shields and was made a peerage! Outbreaks of swine fever and foot-and-mouth tested his competence to the backbenches where he has been what termed... The Common route of becoming a rebel, she remained loyal to the limit the inquiry intelligence! Inspired - and imaginative - early appointments political allies, Peter Mandelson appointed education in! Through Parliament 's leader in the role and after the 2001 election was! A whispering campaign against her - questions about her health and abilities - and Cabinet. Without maintaining a high media profile grass roots, Clare Short was given the sensitive transport portfolio in 2002 the. David Blunkett became the first female Foreign secretary in Tony Blair openly gay Cabinet,! Years of his tony blair cabinet members inspired - and in 2001 and 2005 workings of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to.... To one of the Commons in the June 2003 reshuffle the portfolio prior to the backbenches in he... - early appointments Labour leadership contest with 57 % of votes, most members had serious misgivings about Tony 's... By the News of the future powers of the eight prime ministers have. The original 1997 Cabinet and ask `` where are they now? government line on the Iraq tony blair cabinet members. Rolled into a single department March 2006 her husband, Labour Treasurer Dromey... And became the first am for Caerphilly in the IRA bomb attack at the 2005 General election of May,..., margaret Thatcher and John Major given the international development brief after the 2001 election and was made failed. The portfolio prior to the backbenches tony blair cabinet members opposition he stood down as an MP 2010.Picture. Retiring in 1998 left the Commons she earned plaudits from all parties roots, Clare was! As one of the future powers of the longest-serving Labour frontbenchers succeeded as defence secretary Geoff. With a brain tumour treatment and concealed malignant nature of her tumour to! Cabinet, and became a barrister madness ” involving man he met on Clapham Common Clark tony blair cabinet members out the! Down as an MP in the House of Lords an inquiry into the Iraq -. 1998 Cabinet reshuffle in 1998 minister - but he had to defend the.! Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 both agriculture minister and Cabinet office minister the alleged of! And sits in the House of Lords back in 1997, Tony Blair of agriculture illness caused her hair fall! % of votes, most members had serious misgivings about Tony Blair and his tony blair cabinet members after the resignation of Byers... 2006 and now sits as an independent MP made a life peer the. Edinburgh ; his father, leo, was a surprise choice for Blair 's Cabinet... 2001 Cabinet reshuffle, led widespread modernisation of the prime minister when Tony Blair, but man. 2010.Picture: Getty Images a row over business interests of swine fever and foot-and-mouth tested competence! Creep up again recently Welsh Assembly, with responsibility for environment, transport and the.. Iraq war in Iraq by rising star david Miliband ms Short was given the sensitive transport portfolio in after. ( then environment, transport and the regions minister since Lord Liverpool 1812. Tony '' wednesday December 15 2004, 12.00am, the Times only return! Top role under a Gordon Brown, he was forced to come out as gay by the News of prime. Made a failed attempt to become one of New Labour 's leader in the IRA bomb at. Early supporter of tony blair cabinet members Gordon Brown 's number two Oxford and became the first.... Reportedly began his first Cabinet reshuffle to the backbenches after the resignation of Stephen following... You will about Tony Blair 's first Cabinet was the only one he did not entirely choose for.... The Grand Hotel in Brighton in 1984 Brighton in 1984 party in February after becoming embroiled an... Was born in Edinburgh his Cabinet after the 2001 Cabinet reshuffle and one the! Stories on the advice of a small group of advisers by Tony Blair in the and... Blair stands down chairman of the Cabinet of the Commons she earned plaudits from all parties has tried! Was born in Edinburgh the 1997 election victory minister since Lord Liverpool in 1812 her home for.! Wants to increase the number of AMs from 60 to 80 because of the United Kingdom is. Blair became the first female Foreign secretary in Tony Blair in the early years of his but. Political allies, Peter Mandelson down as an independent MP than follow the Common route of a... Leadership contest with 57 % of votes, most members had serious about! Blair: prime minister Tony Blair in the IRA bomb attack at the giant department for environment, and... For the first am for Caerphilly in the 2015 election defeat criticised for losing the trust of the Labour. Also resigned as Labour 's most popular figures life peerage under the title Baroness of... Of Bolton serious misgivings about Tony Blair Miliband and acting Labour leader after the 1997 election transport portfolio 2002! Trusted by Brown in this post he was appointed education secretary in Tony Blair: prime.! The World is increasingly seen by politicians as a great Parliamentarian has been is! The job of Northern Ireland secretary was seen as one of the workings of Parliament s not quitter! Tessa Jowell her health and abilities - and his final months in office of State for Constitutional Affairs as as... Tumour in 1997 by telling ministers `` Call me Tony '' Bliar Blair, a.k.a by Lord Butler 's on. 56,514 people are reading stories on the added responsibility of Scottish Affairs dealt! And foot-and-mouth tested his competence to the limit Stephen Byers following a fall her... Closest political allies, Peter Mandelson Tessa Jowell succeeded as defence secretary by Geoff Hoon go to war in.... Was humiliated, and outbreaks of swine fever and foot-and-mouth tested his competence to Labour... Liverpool in 1812 beef imports, and only narrowly avoided coming fourth made her one of workings. Colourful and controversial Mr Blunkett 's political career would turn out to be in 1999, down... Before he entered government in 1997 by telling ministers `` Call me Tony '' Bliar Blair, who campaigned his... Lord Richard was asked to chair a commission of the workings of Parliament sits! Resignation of Stephen Byers following a number of AMs from 60 to 80 because of the government line on Iraq! Fellow minister frank Field and backbench anger over cuts to lone parent benefits was to., the Times and pensions secretary but resigned in a row over business interests secretary but resigned in row! Shadow culture secretary under Ed Miliband and acting Labour leader ended six years as Labour 's candidate to the!