Blair's Britain: Mandelson poised on threshold of power

The new government takes shape

Appointments to the new government so far:

The Cabinet

Prime Minister - Tony Blair, 43, (* pounds 100,000)

Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and Regions - John Prescott, 58, pounds 60,000

Chancellor of the Exchequer - Gordon Brown, 47, pounds 60,000

Foreign Secretary - Robin Cook, 51, pounds 60,000

Lord Chancellor - The Lord Irvine of Lairg, 56, pounds 135,406

Home Secretary - Jack Straw, 50, pounds 60,000

Secretary of State for Education and Employment - David Blunkett, 49, pounds 60,000

President of the Board of Trade - Margaret Beckett, 54, pounds 60,000

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food - Dr Jack Cunningham, 57, pounds 60,000

Secretary of State for Scotland - Donald Dewar, 59, pounds 60,000

Secretary of State for Defence - George Robertson, 51, pounds 60,000

Secretary of State for Health - Frank Dobson, 57, pounds 60,000

President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons - Ann Taylor, 49, pounds 60,000

Secretary of State for National Heritage - Chris Smith, 45, pounds 60,000

Secretary of State for Social Security - Harriet Harman, 46, pounds 60,000

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland - Marjorie Mowlam, 47, pounds 60,000

Secretary of State for Wales - Ron Davies, 50, pounds 60,000

Secretary of State for International Development - Clare Short, 51, pounds 60,000

Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords - The Lord Richard, 64, pounds 77,963

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster - David Clark, 57, pounds 60,000

Minister of Transport - Gavin Strang, 53, pounds 60,000

Chief Secretary to the Treasury - Alistair Darling, 43, pounds 60,000

Ministers not in the Cabinet

Chief Whip** - Nick Brown, 46, pounds 36,613

Minister without Portfolio, Peter Mandelson, 43, pounds 31,125

Minister for Europe, Doug Henderson, 47, pounds 31, 125

Paymaster General, Geoffrey Robinson, 48, pounds 31,125

Treasury Minister of State, Helen Liddell, 46, pounds 31,125

Employment Minister of State - Andrew Smith, 46, pounds 31,125

Social Security Minister of State - Frank Field, 54, pounds 31,125

*Mr Blair has indicated that he will not take full salary

**Will attend Cabinet

All Cabinet ministers and ministers of state also receive MP's salary of pounds 43,860. Lords are not paid an extra salary.