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Has Gordon Brown restored the pre-Blair practice at Cabinet meetings of members referring to their colleagues by ministerial title rather than first name?

I guess Gord's potentially stitched himself up on day one! If interest rates keep on rising and/or the economy falters, he can hardly blame the previous regime - it can only be a result of his time as Chancellor or bad judgement in appointing a successor at the Treasury who undoes all his 'good work'! That would make an interesting Cabinet meeting!

Nick, if they're leaking the first words of a supposedly confidential Cabinet meeting to you to show us all how vastly amusing Gordon Brown can be, I'd respectfully suggest that the new era of no spin, change etc has got off to a truly well spun start. And you've fallen for it, you great gloop!

So where is the big surprise he was spinning, it can't Shirley Williams who is umming and erring about whether to take a consultancy position can it?

Well it's good to know that George has the details of which of the 23 plus (Civil Servants and perhaps Tea-persons also have ears) present at the meeting is responsible for the release of the momentous words. He may infer that the publication of the phrase was part of Government communications strategy, but I doubt if he can prove it. He's surely not engaging in a spot gf gyration himself?

This is basically just geekery, but does anyone know who will be the deputy for the Prime Minister at PMQs and/or "running" the country if Brown takes a holiday (he doesn't seem the Costa del Sol type, but I'm lead to believe he visits America)? One positive of Prescott was at least we knew that.
If memory serves me correct Leader of the House is next "in line" (I seem to remember the role falling to Deputy Leader of the House once, and watching the Tories and Lib Dems try to work out who their shadow was), but I can't see Harman being let out in public that often?
Another alternative is the Tories have annointed Hague "Senior Member of the Shadow Cabinet" and he faces Prescott, will Straw or someone else be given a similar honour (1st Secretary of State seems obvious)?

Like to see how much Defence means to this government...

Why oh Why does the ONLY person to have kept his job, also get something else as well?

It really does say something to all the Members of the Armed Forces (of whom three died today in Basrah) that the cabinet minister in charge if you, is going to be doing 'Flexi-time' with looking after the Scottish Office..

But then again, there probably won't be much work in the Scottish Office if the SNP get there way for a separate country!

An outrage.... plenty of MPs, why not put another one on the cabinet so we can have a Minister of Defence who has a full day doing work for the 'benefit' of the Forces. :(

Sadly for those already keen to start a leak enquiry (or for that matter have an inflated opinion of nick's contacts) the clip is available through the downing street website, which is presumably where this newslog got it from too. Shame on them for not coming clean...

It would be a great surprise and a breath of fresh air if Brown actually did something about banning Hizb Ut Tahrir. Unfortunately, it seems an organisation can order the killing of Jews wherever they see them, and no doubt the killing of Christians, Hindus or whoever else they wish to eliminate. All this is legal in the UK today, but if British citizens arose and demanded instant death for any Moslem crossing their path, there would be, quite rightly an upsurge of repulsion and the group demnading this would be banned and prosecuted.