Blair demotes Straw (England's Rove/Rummy clone)

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Prime Minister Tony Blair axed his under-fire interior minister and demoted his foreign secretary in a wide-ranging Cabinet reshuffle after his party was humiliated in regional elections.

Friday's shake-up follows a string of political setbacks that have undermined the prime minister's authority and intensified calls for his resignation.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke, who was recently forced to apologize for a scandal over the deportation of foreign prisoners was to be replaced by Defense Minister John Reid, a government statement said.

Blair removed Jack Straw as foreign secretary, replacing him with Environment Minister Margaret Beckett -- the first woman in the role. Straw was shunted sideways to become leader of the lower house of Parliament.

SNIP

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/05/05/britain.elections/index.html

As we know from the Seymour Hersh article, Straw and the Foreign Office were not on board for attacking Iran. Maybe Beckett will be more willing? :scared:

If we go, we go alone.

Lot of use public opinion did there :eyes:

But that decision would be made by Blair in the end - although it might force her resignation.

He's simply Blair's bagman - a bit of a joke, really, because Blair conducts foreign policy himself. He's also considered a bit useless in any Cabinet role. More of a Colin Powell figure.

It's good that Beckett is replacing him - she's a good woman, wasted in Environment.

Reid is a thug.

This is evidence of blind panic in Number 10.

the Hindenburg?

To be honest I'd be surprised if Blair lasted the year.