Gordon Brown will bring a string of young Blairites and Brownites into his first Cabinet to give Labour a fresh image as he takes on David Cameron and tries to win his party a record fourth term.

He is also expected to hand big jobs to existing experienced ministers, with Jack Straw tipped to return to a main office of state, possibly a second spell as Foreign Secretary.

Mr Straw is also seen as the only possible rival to Alistair Darling, the long-time favourite, for Mr Brown’s current job of Chancellor. John Reid will get one of the big jobs, possibly remaining as Home Secretary, despite his uneasy relationship over the years with Mr Brown.

The Times understands that Ed Balls, Mr Brown’s long-time adviser, will enter the Cabinet, with a beefed-up role as Chief Secretary to the Treasury the most likely option. He has also been mentioned as a possible Chancellor, but Mr Brown is understood to believe that would be too big a leap for his first Cabinet job. David Miliband is expected to remain as Environment Secretary.

Mr Brown will not engage in public speculation about his plan. But the broad tone and make-up of his first government team are beginning to emerge. He is expected to reward ministers he regards as good administrators with senior jobs. Falling into that category are Hilary Benn, Douglas Alexander and Mr Darling. Mr Alexander and Jacqui Smith, now Chief Whip, look to be strong candidates for the health and education portfolios. Hazel Blears, the Labour chairman, is likely to be given an important Cabinet post.

Charles Clarke is likely to be the only former Cabinet minister making a comeback under Mr Brown. Although Mr Clarke has been critical of the Chancellor friends say that Mr Brown has a lot of respect for him and expect him to be offered a job, although it may not be as senior as the Home Secretary role that he left in May.

Other former ministers such as David Blunkett, Alan Milburn and Stephen Byers have little chance of returning. There could, however, be a role for Paul Murphy, the former Northern Ireland Secretary, regarded as another solid operator. But the Cabinet will be given a more youthful look by the arrival of several young ministers, some of whom were elected for the first time in 2005, as was Mr Balls.

The Blairites James Purnell, Andy Burnham, Pat McFadden, Jim Murphy and Liam Byrne are all highly regarded by the Chancellor and are expected to figure high in a Brown government while some of his own young supporters, including Yvette Cooper, the wife of Mr Balls, and Ed Miliband are likely to reach the top table.

Jon Cruddas, currently making a run for the deputy leader’s job, may be asked to play a senior party or government role. Beverley Hughes is tipped for a senior job.

The extent of the inflow of new blood will depend on how ruthless Mr Brown will be with Mr Blair’s outgoing team. Margaret Beckett, the Foreign Secretary, is expected widely to become Leader of the Lords at some point, although whether Mr Brown will risk a by- election early in his term to enable that to happen is open to doubt.

But with Mr Blair and John Prescott going, and speculation that several out-and-out Blairites including John Hutton, Hilary Armstrong, Tessa Jowell and Lord Falconer of Thoroton may bow out at the same time, spaces will be created around the Cabinet table.

Mr Miliband, whom Brown supporters rate highly as the Environment Secretary, is likely to be asked to stay in that job. He has been switched rapidly from one job to another and, by asking such an obvious high-flyer to stay there, Mr Brown will be demonstrating his own commitment to the environment.

It is believed that Mr Brown wants to avoid regular Cabinet changes and to give ministers time to complete tasks set for them and by them. His intention to promote the young Blairites will be taken as a sign that he wants to run the Cabinet in a collegiate way.

Overall, Mr Brown wants a top-team mix of youth and experience but his objective, say friends, will be competence and authority.

As reported in The Times, he wants to move the style of government away from the image that has come to dog Mr Blair, that of one run by a clique of close friends and advisers. Civil servants will be restored to their role at the heart of government and particularly No 10. They will take all the big central jobs under the guidance of Sir Gus O’Donnell, the Cabinet Secretary, who was Permanent Secretary at the Treasury under Mr Brown.

Most of the other No 10 jobs will go to civil servants whom Mr Brown has come to trust while at the Treasury.

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