Out go the Blair Babes, in come Gordon's Girls
She was one of Blair's babes, but she's on the way out
Five of Tony Blair's female Ministers are expected to lose their jobs in Gordon Brown's shake-up after he becomes Prime Minister on Wednesday.
On the way out are:
• Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt - blamed for mispending the extra billions that Mr Brown has ploughed into the NHS.
• Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell - Blair loyalist accused of failing to control runaway costs of the now £9 billion London Olympics.
• Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett - a long-time Brown ally but, at 64, needing to be retired before the next General Election.
• Cabinet Office Minister Hilary Armstrong - lacklustre Blairite who has indicated she will step down - and Leader of the Lords Baroness Amos, who is also believed to be ready to quit after failing to make an impact.
Brown admires Ruth Kelly's work at the Treasury
But Mr Brown is determined not to offend women voters. As Blair's Babes leave, Gordon's Girls will include:
• Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly, whose work at the Treasury Brown admired.
• Chief Whip Jacqui Smith and Party Chairman Hazel Blears are both tipped for promotion.
• Comeback kids Justice Minister Harriet Harman, once sacked as Social Security Secretary, and Beverley Hughes, forced to quit as Home Office Minister over a 2004 immigration scandal.
• Cabinet promotion is also on the cards for Housing Minister Yvette Cooper, who is married to Treasury Minister Ed Balls.
• Public Health Minister Caroline Flint, and high-flying new MP Kitty Ussher are also tipped for senior posts.
