MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mini-reshuffle in Foreign Office cabinet

Welsh MP Chris Bryant named Minister for Europe

A mini-reshuffle in the British cabinet or simply “housekeeping”, according to PM Brown’s spokesperson, has switched Baroness Kinnock from her post as Europe Minister, --just four months into the job--, to be replaced by Welsh MP Chris Bryant, who nevertheless remains as a junior member in the department.

The wife of former Labor leader Neil was brought into government by PM Brown in June to replace Caroline Flint, who quit as a minister, complaining of the premier’s treatment of women in the Government as “window dressing”.

Baroness Kinnock’s experience of 15 years as an MEP for Wales was cited as a reason for her appointment.

But Downing Street announced Monday she would move to take responsibility within the Foreign Office for Africa, with her Europe role going to Rhondda MP Chris Bryant, who was serving as a junior minister in the department.

Mr Bryant broke with government protocol by breaking the news on Twitter hours before it was officially confirmed. Bryant told his 355 followers on the micro-blogging site: “Off to work with a new job – minister for Europe”.

Mr Bryant, however, will not receive any rebuke for the apparent early announcement of his move on the internet. “I don’t think the Prime Minister will have any concerns,” his spokesman said.

Baroness Kinnock will continue to speak on European affairs in the House of Lords, with Bryant being handed overall responsibility for European affairs – a downgrading of the post, as he remains a Parliamentary Under-secretary.

Shadow Europe Minister Mark Francois said the whole affair showed Gordon Brown’s Government was “again stumbling into farce”.

She said: “Glenys Kinnock was appointed in chaos. Now she has the embarrassment of being the first minister ever whose reshuffle has been announced on Twitter by her successor.

“Chris Bryant is now Labor’s 12th Europe minister in as many years, concrete proof of their failure to take European issues seriously. No wonder Labor’s record on Europe is of retreat, not leadership”.

PM Brown’s spokesman described the changes as “housekeeping” in the wake of the departure from government of Lord Malloch-Brown, who was Africa Minister.

Lord Malloch-Brown, a former United Nations official brought into government by Mr Brown, resigned in July for “family and personal reasons”, saying he had never intended to remain a minister for long.

Mr Brown’s spokesman said there would be no “specific replacement” for him.

The spokesman added of the changes: “I would characterize it as housekeeping and a sensible adjustment of portfolios.”