BRITAIN: An extensive cabinet reshuffle yesterday saw Mr Tony Blair pave the way for the abolition of the historic office of Lord Chancellor and the creation of a Supreme Court for England and Wales.
In a radical re-design of Whitehall structures, the Prime Minister confirmed that his friend Lord Falconer would head a new Department of Constitutional Affairs. This will consume the roles of the Scottish and Welsh offices, and most of the functions of the existing Lord Chancellor's department including the administration of the courts.
Unlike the outgoing Lord Irvine, however, Lord Falconer will not sit as Lord Chancellor, nor as a Law Lord, pending legislation introducing an independent panel for the appointment of judges which will also appoint a Supreme Court. After a period of consultation it is also intended that the Speaker of the House of Lords will not be a minister.
Human Rights campaigners welcomed these changes as an important step in making clear the distinction between judge and politician. However, Mr Blair risked a political storm over his decision to leave the posts of Secretary of State for Scotland and Wales unfilled.
With the outgoing Scottish Secretary Mrs Helen Liddell confirming she had decided in January to leave government, Mr Blair announced that Transport Secretary Mr Alistair Darling will also speak on Scottish affairs in the Commons, while the new Leader of the House, Mr Peter Hain - previously Welsh Secretary - will continue to speak on Welsh matters.
The amalgamation of the Scottish and Welsh offices had long been predicted as a consequence of devolution. However, Welsh Conservatives leader Mr Nick Bourne said: "Wales needs direct representations in the Westminster cabinet under any governing party, not a diluted attempt to kick Welsh interests at a national level into the long grass." And a spokesman for Plaid Cymru said this "very regrettable" decision "means the voice of Wales will not be heard as clearly in Parliament".
At Westminster yesterday the biggest surprise was the pre-emptive decision by the highly ambitious Health Secretary, Mr Alan Milburn, to quit his post in order to spend more time with his family. Mr Milburn's announcement immediately triggered speculation about other possible reasons for his departure.
However, while acknowledging there would inevitably be "conspiracy theories" Mr Milburn insisted they were wrong: "It comes down to a simple thing - a personal choice." Mr Milburn said: "It's come down to a choice between my career in politics and my life with my family. You get one shot in life with kids. You get one chance to see them grow up."
Mr Milburn, a loyal Blairite, had been involved in heavy tussles with Chancellor Gordon Brown over Mr Blair's controversial proposals for the creation of Foundation Hospitals. Any speculation that Mr Milburn's departure might mark a retreat by Mr Blair was swiftly corrected by confirmation that his successor would be Dr John Reid, known variously as a Blairite bruiser and a "safe pair of hands".
The decision by the controversial Lord Irvine to retire opened the way to the abolition of the Lord Chancellor's post which has been in existence since 605 AD. Among its famous occupants were Thomas a Beckett, Sir Thomas More and Cardinal Wolsey - to whom Lord Irvine once famously compared himself.
The changes
A summary of the British Prime Minister's changes to the structures and personnel in Whitehall.
Retired: Lord Irvine, the Lord Chancellor.
Replaced by: Lord Falconer, to be Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs
To be abolished: The role of Lord Chancellor.
To be replaced by: A Supreme Court.
Resigned: Alan Milburn, Health Secretary
Replaced by: John Reid, former Leader of the Commons.
New Leader of the Commons: Peter Hain.
Resigned: Helen Liddell, Secretary of State for Scotland.
(Welsh and Scottish cabinet posts will remain unfilled; Hain will answer for Wales, Alister Darling will answer for Scotland.)