Straw loses job in post-poll reshuffle

The reshuffle comes after accusations of government incompetence and sleaze and the poor local election results, which have put pressure on Blair to give his government new impetus or step aside. 8216;8216;This is a major reshuffle,8217;8217; said Ben Page, Mori pollster.

8216;8216;Margaret Beckett going to the Foreign Office was not something anyone had predicted. Reid is a marvellous all round player for Tony Blair and here he is saving his bacon again,8217;8217; he said.

Clarke will leave government while Straw becomes leader of the House of Commons. Reid will have to deal with the aftermath of a scandal in which 1,000 foreign prisoners were released without being considered for deportation.

Thursday8217;s vote was held in 176 of the 388 local authorities in England, with a total 4,360 council seats up for grabs. Labour was defending 1,768 seats. Results posted on a BBC Web Site showed Labour had lost 256 seats while the Conservative party under new leader David Cameron gained 252.