British Prime Minister Tony Blair reshuffled his cabinet, keeping his popular heir- after his Labour Party won a third term in power in a general election that slashed its parliamentary majority by more than half. (AFP photo)

    LONDON, May 6 (Xinhuanet) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair hada cabinet reshuffle Friday evening shortly after Labor's unprecedented victory in the election.

    While Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, Education Secretary Ruth Kelly and Home Secretary Charles Clarke will retain their posts, former Health Secretary John Reid has been appointed Defense Secretary, taking his place is Patricia Hewitt, who was Secretary of State for Tradeand Industry and Minister for Women.

    Former Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon becomes leader the House ofCommons. Peter Hain who was leader of the House of Commons, Lord Privy Seal and Secretary of State for Wales, is appointed NorthernIreland Secretary.

    Ex-home secretary David Blunkett is also offered a post as Workand Pensions Secretary, and Alan Johnson takes the new post of secretary for productivity, energy and industry.

    David Miliband enters the Cabinet as community and local government secretary, whereas former Immigration Minister Des Browne becomes Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

    John Hutton has been appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Minister for the Cabinet Office) and Douglas Alexander will attend Cabinet as Europe Minister.

Re-appointed to run Britain's foreign policy, Jack Straw, seen here April 2005, is an archetypal loyalist of Prime Minister Tony Blair's so-called New Labour movenment who has been a party member since he was 14 and foreign secretary since 2001(AFP/File photo)

Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown leaves No. 10 Downing Street in London after the Labour Party and Prime Minister Tony Blair were returned to power in the general election.(AFP photo)

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