The picture of Blair's new Cabinet team was slowly beginning to form last night. The Prime Minister took longer than expected to finalise his reshuffle, and ministers were still filing into Downing Street to learn their fate. The big changes were likely to come in education, home affairs and transport. Education Secretary David Blunkett was set to take over the Home Office, where Blair will expect him to drive through reform of England's justice system. Jack Straw was likely to move from the Home Office to replace Prescott at the department of tran-sport and environment.
Straw faces the daunting task of rescuing a crumbling transport system.
The biggest promotion was due to go to English schools minister Estelle Morris. She has impressed Blair and was in line for her boss Blunkett's job. Alan Milburn was set to continue as English health secretary, while Stephen Byers was widely expected to keep his post as Trade and Industry Secretary. The other major reform, also widely predicted, came in agriculture. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, heavily criticised over its handling of the foot and mouth crisis, was scrapped to be replaced by a new rural affairs department.