Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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Blair Reshuffling Cabinet After Heavy Local Election Losses
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1214E48:3919ACA Foreign Secretary
Jack Straw demoted, replaced by Margaret Beckett, who had been
Environment Minister  British Prime Minister Tony Blair has begun
reshuffling his cabinet after his Labor Party suffered heavy losses in
local elections Thursday.





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width=195 vspace=2 border=0>

Jack Straw arrives at 10 Downing Street for a meeting with Prime
Minister Tony Blair, May 5, 2006 Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was
demoted and replaced by Environment Minister Margaret Beckett. Mr.
Blair removed Charles Clarke from the post of home secretary. That job
now goes to Defense Minister John Reid. Senior Treasury Ministry
official Des Brown takes over the defense portfolio and House of
Commons leader Geoff Hoon becomes minister for Europe.

Many saw the vote for more than 4300 town and city council seats
throughout England as a referendum on Mr. Blair. Early returns show
Labor lost at least 251 seats, while the main opposition Conservatives
gained at least 249.

The Labor Party is reeling from scandals and charges of incompetence,
including the accidental release of more than 1,000 foreign prisoners
who had faced deportation.

Political observers say Labor's poor election showing could force Mr.
Blair to name a date for leaving office.

First elected in 1997, Prime Minister Blair has already said he will
not seek a fourth term. Britain's next general election is set for no
later than May, 2010.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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