Faces from the very early days of New Labour are now back to the fore. Nick Brown returning to the post of chief whip. Peter Mandelson in the post of business secretary once again. Margaret Beckett as housing minister (I can reveal). Even Derek Draper is knocking around Labour headquarters once again.
No doubt it’s meant to represent solidarity - and silence Blairite critics within the government. But to the public, it may smack of retreat.
Jim Pickard and Alex Barker, FT Westminster correspondents, share the latest news and gossip from the UK's political scene.
Alex Barker has been an FT political correspondent since July 2007. He joined the paper in 2005, after working in current affairs television.
Jim Pickard joined the FT's lobby team in January 2008, having been a regional correspondent, assistant UK news editor and property correspondent.
FT.com - UK Politics & Policy news
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