Details of Mr Tony Blair's first cabinet shuffle are expected today. It has been reported that the Prime Minister had at least one sudden change of mind over the weekend.
The expectation is that cabinet level changes will be announced today, , with further moves lower down the ranks tomorrow.
Ministers most widely tipped for demotion include the Social Security Secretary, Ms Harriet Harman, though she could keep a cabinet seat as Minister for Women. Welfare Reform Minister, Mr Frank Field, is also said to be at risk after a Saturday paper reported "friends" warning he would consider resigning if he did not get a more powerful role.
Most speculation surrounds the Agriculture Minister, Dr Jack Cunningham, who was heavily tipped at the weekend for promotion. He could become a new cabinet "enforcer" to drive Mr Blair's agenda across Whitehall and be general government spokesman.
Reports also suggested the Minister without Portfolio, Mr Peter Mandelson, could be granted his wish to run a department, but that his prickly relations with the Chancellor, Mr Gordon Brown, could rule out his replacing the President of the Board of Trade, Ms Margaret Beckett. He could go to Culture, Media and Sport instead, replacing Mr Chris Smith.
Downing Street was not confirming the changes would be today. But the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr John Prescott, appeared inadvertently to let it slip in an interview on Sky's Sunday with Adam Boulton. Asked when the changes would take place and whether it would be tomorrow, he replied: "I don't know". He went on to say: "The Prime Minister will show his hand and his mind tomorrow - and whenever he makes the final analysis."