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Derek Foster: seeking another role
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First Ministerial Resignation
Labour's suffered its first ministerial resignation. The former Chief Whip, Derek Foster, accepted the post of Minister of State at the Office of Public Service at the weekend. He's now changed his mind.
Mr Foster has decided that he will not take up the job, and is expected to run for one of the posts of Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons.
Mr Foster said: "On reflection, after Saturday's appointments, I felt I might
have more to offer in other ways and I will have an announcement to make in due
course. I am perfectly happy with the outcome."
To fill the gap, Peter Kilfoyle, who was an education spokesman in Opposition, becomes Public Services
Minister but he takes on simply a junior ministerial rank.
The development followed speculation about whether or not Mr Foster would
receive a Cabinet post. He had always claimed that, when he agreed to Mr Blair's desire to appoint a Chief Whip, he - as an elected Chief Whip - had stood aside on the understanding that he would be rewarded with a Cabinet post.
But sources close to Mr Blair did not confirm that such an offer had been
made.
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