Blair announces key cabinet appointments

As expected, Gordon Brown has been appointed Chancellor and Robin Cook Foreign Secretary. John Prescott has been appointed Deputy Prime Minister, with special responsibilities for Environment, Transport and regional policy.

Jack Straw is the new Home Secretary. David Blunkett has been chosen as Secretary of State for Education and Employment. Margaret Beckett becomes President of the Board of Trade. Lord Irvine, who employed Tony Blair as a barrister in his chambers and introduced him to Cherie, is to be Lord Chancellor.

More appointments will be made tomorrow. One senior figure to watch is the controversial left-winger Clare Short. Mr Blair's new press secretary and special adviser, Alistair Campbell, has indicated that Ms Short could find herself with a cabinet post.

Other notable appointments include Jonathan Haslam, currently John Major's press secretary, who will become Head of Information at the Department of Education and Employment. Jonathan Powell, who was head of Mr Blair's office in opposition, becomes the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff.

The New Cabinet