THE UK:Gordon Brown has scored a presentational coup with a radical cabinet reshuffle, giving Britain its youngest foreign secretary in 30 years and putting a woman in charge of the Home Office for the first time, London Editor Frank Millar, writes.
At 41, David Miliband becomes the youngest foreign secretary since Jim Callaghan appointed David Owen to the post in 1977 at the age of 38, while former chief whip Jacqui Smith is the surprise choice for the Home Office post vacated by John Reid. As expected, Alistair Darling completes the triumvirate in the three big offices of state, succeeding Mr Brown as chancellor of the exchequer.
The new British prime minister also set a cracking pace for his new government following the hiatus of Tony Blair's long farewell - presiding over his first cabinet meeting yesterday afternoon and calling another for today at which ministers are expected to discuss constitutional reform.
With a total of nine ministers following Mr Blair and John Prescott out of government, Mr Brown took the opportunity to shape a cabinet that seemed to signal a marked change of style from that of his predecessor.
However, the first tentative words of newly-appointed ministers were being carefully scrutinised last night for evidence of any substantive policy shift, amid repeated Conservative claims that Mr Brown cannot be "the change" that Britain needs.
While Mr Brown has said the UK will "meet her obligations" in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr Miliband yesterday promised "a diplomacy that is patient as well as purposeful, which listens as well as leads".
Meanwhile, those seeking evidence of a planned shift in foreign policy were also intrigued by the appointment of Douglas Alexander - a man reportedly sceptical about "liberal interventionism" - as international development secretary. Also among a group of ministers attending the cabinet but not of cabinet rank will be Sir Mark Malloch Brown - a former United Nations deputy secretary-general and one-time spokesman for Kofi Annan - who has been given a peerage to become minister for Africa, Asia and the UN.
Apart from Ms Smith, one other big surprise appointment was that of Shaun Woodward, a defector from the Conservative Party, as secretary of state for Northern Ireland. Some were surprised that Mr Brown reinstated a full-time Northern Ireland job while leaving the Scotland and Wales posts on a shared basis.
Des Browne - who alone was left unchanged at defence - will also take the Scottish portfolio, while Peter Hain, the new work and pensions secretary, will retain his responsibility for Wales.
While Ms Smith assumes responsibility for national security in the slimmed-down Home Office, Jack Straw - sidelined by Tony Blair in a demotion from the foreign office - makes a comeback as the new justice secretary. One of his first responsibilities will be to reassure the public about a programme of early prisoner releases to alleviate the prison overcrowding crisis.
Mr Straw confirmed that under the Constitutional Reform Act 2003, he will retain the title of lord chancellor, even though he is not a peer.
Echoing Mr Brown's "change" agenda, Mr Straw said: "The big challenge for me is how it is possible to make further changes to shift more power from the government."
Tasting power at cabinet level for the first time are newcomers Ed Miliband, brother of David, as cabinet office minister; John Denham at the new department for innovation, universities and skills; and Mr Brown's right-hand man Ed Balls, who has responsibility for children, schools and families. Other new faces include James Purnell, who takes over as culture secretary from Tessa Jowell, and Andy Burnham, who becomes chief secretary to the treasury.
John Hutton, replaced by Mr Hain, goes to business and industry while Hazel Blears, who came last in the deputy leadership contest, becomes communities secretary as Ruth Kelly takes over at transport and Hilary Benn moves to environment.