Blair Reshuffles Cabinet Again

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, October 25, 2002

Blair Reshuffles Cabinet Again

British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Thursday carried out his second enforced cabinet reshuffle in five months after his education secretary dramatically quit one day ago.

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British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Thursday carried out his second enforced cabinet reshuffle in five months after his education secretary dramatically quit one day ago.

Labor Party Chairman Charles Clarke was appointed as the new education secretary, replacing Estelle Morris who resigned on Wednesday after admitting that she felt she had not done well enough in the job.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid is to take over from Clarke as party chairman, and secretary of state for Wales Paul Murphy steps into the role of Northern Ireland secretary.

Peter Hain, currently Minister for Europe, becomes the new Welsh secretary.

Despite his move to the Welsh Office, Hain will retain his position on the Laeken Convention on the Future of Europe, the body set up last year to chart the future of the European Union, Downing Street confirmed.

But there has been no announcement as to who will replace him at the Foreign Office.

Clarke, a former junior education minister, said he was "delighted to accept the post" of Education Secretary.

He said it was "a fantastic challenge" and he was "really looking forward to doing what he can to improve education in this country".

Commenting on the appointment, Tony Blair's official spokesman said Clarke was "a big figure in every sense" who "went back a long way" with the prime minister.

Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said that "we have a crisis going on in education and the resignation of just one person will not save it."

Liberal Democrat chairman Mark Oaten said "Charles Clarke is a big-hitter and he has education experience in the past."

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