Gordon Brown formed the Brown ministry after being invited by

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...

to form a new administration following the resignation of the previous Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, on 27 June 2007. Brown formed his government over the course of the next day, with Jacqui Smith being appointed the United Kingdom's first female Home Secretary. Following the 2010 general election, which resulted in a hung parliament, the government briefly remained in an acting capacity while negotiations to form a new government took place. After talks between the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats broke down and a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition looked imminent, Brown resigned as Prime Minister on 11 May 2010.

Background

In comparison with Tony Blair's last Cabinet, Brown retained seventeen ministers including himself. Alistair Darling replaced Brown as Chancellor of the Exchequer while his portfolio at Trade and Industry was renamed Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and given to John Hutton. Hutton was in turn replaced as Work Secretary by Peter Hain, who continued as Wales Secretary but not as Northern Ireland Secretary, a post that went to Shaun Woodward.

David Miliband David Wright Miliband (born 15 July 1965) is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the International Rescue Committee and a former British Labour Party politician. He was the Foreign Secretary from 2007 to 2010 and the Member of P ...

was promoted from Environment Secretary to Foreign Secretary and was replaced in that brief by Hilary Benn, then International Development Secretary. Douglas Alexander filled Benn's seat whilst his posts as Transport and Scotland Secretaries were given to Ruth Kelly and

Des Browne Desmond Henry Browne, Baron Browne of Ladyton, (born 22 March 1952) is a Scottish politician who served in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown as Secretary of State for Defence 2006 to 2008 and Secretary of St ...

, respectively, the latter of whom stayed on as Defence Secretary. Jack Straw became the first MP Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, declaring it a new Great Office of State. Amid speculation that Brown would appoint him as Deputy Prime Minister and/or First Secretary of State, neither title was conferred on any member. The other name that cropped up for the two roles was the new Labour Party Chair and Deputy Leader, Harriet Harman, who made a return to Cabinet after nine years as Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal and was given the additional brief of Minister for Women and Equality. It was believed that the

Government Equalities Office The Government Equalities Office (GEO) is the unit of the British government with responsibility for social equality. The office has lead responsibility for gender equality within the UK government, together with a responsibility to provide advic ...

would become its own department headed by an Equalities Secretary; however, it was not given Secretary of State status. The previous home of the Equalities Office and of Ruth Kelly was the Communities Secretary, a post which was given to Hazel Blears, whose previous role as

Minister without Portfolio A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister who does not head a particular ministry. The sinecure is particularly common in countries ruled by coalition governments and a cabinet w ...

was not given due to Harman's (the new party chair) full inclusion in Cabinet. Harman's strongest competitor for the deputy leadership, Alan Johnson, became the Health Secretary while his previous role as Education Secretary was split into a Schools Secretary and a Universities Secretary and respectively given to Ed Balls and

John Denham John Denham may refer to: * John Denham (died 1556 or later), English MP for Shaftesbury * John Denham (judge), (1559–1639), father of the poet below, and one of the Ship Money judges * John Denham (poet) (1615–1669), English poet * John Denham ...

. Former Commons Chief Whip Jacqui Smith was given a substantial promotion as the first female Home Secretary and was replaced by Geoff Hoon, who was promoted from being the Europe Minister. His successor,

Jim Murphy James Francis Murphy (born 23 August 1967) is a Scottish former politician who served as Leader of the Scottish Labour Party from 2014 to 2015 and Secretary of State for Scotland from 2008 to 2010. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for East Ren ...

, was not given a provision to attend Cabinet as he was. Tessa Jowell lost her place at the table when James Purnell became Culture Secretary but was given the right to attend Cabinet as the Olympics Minister and also became Paymaster General. The last holdover from Blair's government was

Lord Grocott Bruce Joseph Grocott, Baron Grocott PC (born 1 November 1940) is a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom. Early life Grocott was born in Kings Langley near Watford, and was educated at the University of Leicester. He obtained an MA ...

, who stayed on as Chief Whip in the Lords and

Captain of the Gentlemen at Arms The Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms is a post in the Government of the United Kingdom that has been held by the Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the ...

. Balls' wife, Yvette Cooper, was given the right to attend Cabinet in her role as

Housing Minister A Housing minister is the member of a country's government typically responsible for Housing Policy. Country-related articles and lists * Australia: Minister for Housing ** Victoria: Minister for Housing ** Western Australia: Minister for ...

as was

's brother, Ed Miliband, who became Cabinet Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Beverley Hughes retained her role as Children Minister and was elevated to Cabinet, but was only allowed to sit in that body when her policy area was on the agenda. Additionally,

Baroness Ashton of Upholland Catherine Margaret Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, (born 20 March 1956), is a British Labour politician who served as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and First Vice President of the Europea ...

and

Andy Burnham Andrew Murray Burnham (born 7 January 1970) is a British politician who has served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017. He served in Gordon Brown's Cabinet as Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 2007 to 2008, Culture Secretary from 2008 ...

entered Cabinet as Lords Leader and

Lord President of the Council The lord president of the Council is the presiding officer of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom and the fourth of the Great Officers of State (United Kingdom), Great Officers of State, ranking below the Lord High Treasurer but above the ...

and

Chief Secretary to the Treasury The chief secretary to the Treasury is a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom. The office is the second most senior in the Treasury, after the chancellor of the Exchequer. The office was created in 1961, to share the burden ...

Baroness Scotland of Asthal Patricia Janet Scotland, Baroness Scotland of Asthal, (born 19 August 1955), is a British diplomat, barrister and politician, serving as the sixth secretary-general of the Commonwealth of Nations. She was elected at the 2015 Commonwealth Heads ...

and

Lord Malloch-Brown George Mark Malloch Brown, Baron Malloch-Brown (born 16 September 1953) is a British diplomat, communications consultant, journalist and former politician serving as president of Open Society Foundations since 2021, having previously served as ...

were given the right to attend Cabinet as Attorney General and Africa, Asia and UN Minister. The last alteration to the Cabinet's composition was the removal of the

Minister for Social Exclusion The Minister for Social Exclusion was a ministerial position within the cabinet of the British government. It was first created as a position outside the cabinet by Tony Blair in 1999 and charged with "tackling social exclusion". From May 2006 u ...

and the

Minister of State for Trade The Minister of State for Trade Policy is a mid-level role at the Department for International Trade in the Government of the United Kingdom. It is currently held by Greg Hands, who took the office on 9 October 2022. The minister deputizes for ...

Cabinets

28 June 2007 – 24 January 2008

First reshuffle: 24 January 2008 – 3 October 2008

Second reshuffle: 3 October 2008 – 5 June 2009

Third reshuffle: 5 June 2009 – 11 May 2010

List of ministers

Key:

Prime Minister

Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

Business, Innovation and Skills

Cabinet Office

Children, Schools and Families

Communities and Local Government

Culture, Media and Sport

Defence

Energy and Climate Change

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

Government Equalities Office

Health

Home Affairs

Innovation, Universities and Skills

International Development

Justice

Law Officers

Northern Ireland Office

Parliament

Ministers for the Regions

Scotland Office

Transport

Treasury

Wales Office

Work and Pensions

Whips

Notes

References

;Sources ;External links
Full List of Government Ministers
as of 29 June 2007 from the

10 Downing Street 10 Downing Street in London, also known colloquially in the United Kingdom as Number 10, is the official residence and executive office of the first lord of the treasury, usually, by convention, the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Along wi ...

website.
Full List of Government Ministers
as of 25 January 2008 from the

website.
Her Majesty's Government
as of 27 June 2007 from the

website.
Her Majesty's Government
as of 9 June 2009 from the

website.
In full: Brown's government
as of 27 June 2009 from BBC World News
Ministerial Appointments
as of 3 October 2008 from the

website.
Ministerial Appointments
as of 5 June 2009 from the

website. {{New Labour British ministries Government 2007 establishments in the United Kingdom 2010 disestablishments in the United Kingdom

Ministry Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian ...

New Labour 2000s in the United Kingdom Ministries of Elizabeth II Cabinets established in 2007 Cabinets disestablished in 2010 2007 in British politics 2010s in the United Kingdom