Jacqui Smith is to be Britain's first female home secretary and David Miliband the youngest foreign secretary in 30 years as part of Gordon Brown's first cabinet.The wide-ranging reshuffle has seen several high profile ministers quit, with the cabinet now including two brothers and a husband and wife.
RELATIVE unknown Jacqui Smith is the most notable winner in Gordon Brown's first cabinet, becoming the first ever female home secretary.
The former chief whip takes the reins from John Reid, who has quit the cabinet.
Meanwhile, David Miliband is to be the youngest foreign secretary in 30 years.
At one time touted as a possible leadership challenger to Mr Brown, Mr Miliband, 41, will move from the environment portfolio to foreign affairs, becoming the youngest politician to hold the post since David Owen in 1977.
Alistair Darling has been named as the new chancellor, Jack Straw as justice minister, and Alan Johnson will move to health to be replaced at education by Ed Balls.
It is a meteoric rise for Norwich-born Mr Balls, who only became an MP in 2005 after being economic adviser to Gordon Brown since 1994.
His wife Yvette Cooper stays as housing minister but with the job promoted to cabinet rank.
John Hutton moves to industry, Peter Hain to work and pensions, and Douglas Alexander goes to international development leaving transport to Ruth Kelly.
Des Browne takes over at defence and Scotland, Ed Miliband at the Cabinet Office, James Purnell at culture, Hilary Benn at environment and Geoff Hoon becomes chief whip.
Harriet Harman will combine her post of deputy Labour leader with that of leader of the House of Commons, but will not be deputy prime minister.
Mr Reid is joined by six other high-profile ministers in quitting the top table, with Margaret Beckett, Patricia Hewitt, Lord Goldsmith, Hilary Armstrong and Baroness Amos all going.
Gordon Brown has made several hints that he will make appointments at junior ministerial level from outside the Labour party, possibly bringing in members of other parties or from outside politics altogether.
There are also changes to government departments, with education being split.
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