Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s first Cabinet was announced by Downing Street today with Jacqui Smith confirmed as Britain’s first female Home Secretary.
Alistair Darling was confirmed as Chancellor of the Exchequer and David Miliband as Foreign Secretary. Jack Straw becomes Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, Alan Johnson takes health and Des Browne remains Defence Secretary.
Jacqui Smith arrived at the Home Office headquarters in Westminster and said she was "immensely proud" to take on the role. Mr Miliband, who at 41 becomes the youngest Foreign Secretary since David Owen in 1977, said he was tremendously honoured".
There was a string of changes to the Government team left by Tony Blair.
John Hutton takes the new role of Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, while education is split between Ed Balls as children, schools and families secretary, and John Denham as innovation, universities and skills secretary.
Hilary Benn is the new Environment Secretary, Douglas Alexander takes the International Development post, Peter Hain has the Work and Pensions brief as well as Wales, while Ruth Kelly becomes Transport Secretary.
Hazel Blears is Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, James Purnell becomes Culture, Media and Sport Secretary and Shaun Woodward is Northern Ireland Secretary.
Geoff Hoon is the new Chief Whip, Ed Miliband is Secretary for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Andy Burnham is Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Cabinet is completed with Leader of the Lords Baroness Ashton.
Among the leavers announced today was Foreign Office Minister Ian McCartney. Despite being invited to stay on as a minister, he told Gordon Brown that it was more important to bring in "new faces".
BROWN’S NEW CABINET
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service: Gordon Brown.
Chancellor of the Exchequer: Alistair Darling.
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: David Miliband.
Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor: Jack Straw.
Secretary of State for the Home Department: Jacqui Smith.
Secretary of State for Defence, and Secretary of State for Scotland: Des Browne.
Secretary of State for Health: Alan Johnson.
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Hilary Benn.
Secretary of State for International Development: Douglas Alexander.
Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform: John Hutton.
Leader of the House of Commons (and Lord Privy Seal), Minister for Women, and Labour Party Chair: Harriet Harman.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and Secretary of State for Wales: Peter Hain.
Secretary of State for Transport: Ruth Kelly.
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: Hazel Blears.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, and Chief Whip: Geoff Hoon.
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families: Ed Balls.
Minister for the Cabinet Office, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster: Ed Miliband.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport: James Purnell.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland: Shaun Woodward.
Leader of the House of Lords (and Lord President of the Council): Baroness Ashton of Upholland.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury: Andy Burnham.
Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills: John Denham.
The following ministers will also attend the Cabinet:
Cabinet Minister for the Olympics and London: Tessa Jowell.
Minister for Children and Youth Justice: Beverley Hughes.
Lords Chief Whip and Captain of the Gentlemen at Arms: Lord Grocott.
Attorney General: Baroness Scotland of Asthal.
Minister for Housing: Yvette Cooper.
Minister for Africa, Asia and UN: Lord Malloch Brown.
Parliamentary Private Secretaries to the Prime Minister: Ian Austin, Angela E Smith.
