NEW CABINET

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 116, 1 March 1950, Page 5

NEW CABINET

KEY FIGURES REMAIN

MR ATTLEE’S CHOICE

IN.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

(Rec. 11.15) LONDON, Feb. 28. Three key figures in the Labour Government', Sir Stafford Cripps, Mr Ernest Bevin, and Mr Herbert Morrison, retain their posts in Mr Attlee's new Government which was announced to-night.

Mr Bevin remains Foreign Secretary, Sir Stafford Cripps retains the Chapcellorship of the Exchequ&r and Mr Morrison continues as Lord President of the Council.

Mr E. Shinwell has been promoted from the junior rank of War Minister to become Defence Minister, a post held in the last Government by Mr A. V. Alexander, who is now a peer. Mr Arieurin Bevan remains Health Minister. Mr James Griffiths replaces as Colonial Secretary Mr Arthur Creech-Jones, who was defeated in the elections.

Mr John Stracliey, the heavily-criti-cised Food Minister in the old Cabinet, becomes War Minister. Dr. Edith Somerskill, formerly Mr Strachey’s assistant at the Food Ministry, takes over the National Insurance Ministry from Mr Griffiths. Mr Maurice Webb, chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, who is a journalist, joins the Cabinet as Food Minister.

Mr Hector McNeil, Mr Bevin’s righthand man at the Foreign Ministry, also gets a post of his own as Secretary of State for Scotland.

Mr Hugh Gaitskell, former Fuel Minister, becomes Minister of State for Economic Affairs to help Sir Stafford Cripps steer Britain’s finances. Mr Patrick Gordon-Walker becomes Commonwealth Relations Minister in succession to Mr Philip Noel-Baker, who moves to the Ministry of Fuel and Power.