Although not in former Prime Minister Tony Blair's first Cabinet, Geoff Hoon is seen as one of Labour's survivors in the inner court despite having an accident-prone career.

GEOFF HOON
Although not in former Prime Minister Tony Blair's first Cabinet, Geoff Hoon is seen as one of Labour's survivors in the inner court despite having an accident-prone career.

As defence secretary for six years, the dry as bone, dull as ditchwater lawyer was in post for the Kosovo war in 1999, Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003. He emerged unscathed from the Hutton inquiry into the death of Dr David Kelly and went on to become leader of the House of Commons.

He was out of Cabinet as Europe Minister in 2006 but then switched allegiance to Mr Brown in time to be favoured.

When you're told he is a walking encyclopedia on 1960s rock music and that his favourite musician is Bob Dylan you look at him in a new light. He replaces Ruth Kelly as Transport Minister.

MARGARET BECKETT
IN a day of back to the future appointments the return of Margaret Beckett represents the ultimate in "steady as she goes" politics.

The 65-year-old MP first became a government whip in 1975, when the youngest member of the government David Lammie was just three-years-old, and has held ministerial and shadow ministerial posts almost continuously for 34 years.

She became temporary leader of the party for a short while following the death of John Smith and made a moving tribute to him in the Commons. She was, however, beaten by John Prescott in the subsequent leadership elections.

Blair appointed her to several ministerial posts as a safe pair of hands and she ended up as Foreign Secretary. Sacked by Mr Brown she was made chair of the Commons security and intelligence committee.

As Housing Minister, she replaces Caroline Flint, who becomes Europe minister, and will attend Cabinet. During such rocky times in the housing market she is meant to supply reassurance.

NICK BROWN
Seen as the Brownite balancing ticket to the return of Peter Mandelson, Nick Brown started as a Blair loyalist but moved over to Gordon Brown when he got into government.

Blair made the former union official chief whip in 1997 for his help in securing the Sedgefield constituency, and agriculture secretary in 1998.

However, he mishandled the foot-and-mouth crisis in 2001 and was demoted to outside the Cabinet as minister for work, and dropped altogether in 2003.

Although he is chief whip, he will not be a full member of Cabinet, attending when required, which would be frequent.

His exclusion is explained as part of the economic emphasis of the Cabinet team, but it may also be the price he paid for Mr Mandelson's attendance at the Cabinet table.

Mr Brown has plenty of experience of organising votes, and not just as deputy chief whip.

As Gordon Brown's acolyte, he organised the back-bench rebellion against student tuition fees that was called off at the last minute.