Andrew Grice: We are all Brownites now, say the Blairites with relief

Welcome to Gordon's Big Tent. That was the message from the new Prime Minister as he unveiled his "new government" yesterday, including a former Tory MP, two arch-critics of the Iraq war and several Blairites.

Mr Brown is determined to head off David Cameron's main line of attack - that after 10 years at the heart of the Blair government, he cannot provide the change the country needs.

It might look a bit odd to make constitutional reform such an early priority but he wants to show he is trying to sweep the Blair stables clean. He will move on to "bread and butter" issues such as schools, hospitals and housing before too long.

The two key figures behind the scenes were Sir Gus O'Donnell, the Cabinet Secretary and the former top official at the Treasury, who will play a pivotal role in the new administration, and Sue Nye, Mr Brown's long-standing gatekeeper who is now director of government relations.

Mr Brown showed his ruthless streak, dislodging Margaret Beckett, an old ally, from the Foreign Office against her will. He demoted Tessa Jowell, who retains responsibility for the London Olympics but loses her Culture department, moved Ruth Kelly sideways and ditched the Treasury Chief Secretary, Stephen Timms.

Blairites did well, better than some of them had expected. Jacqui Smith, the new Home Secretary, is more Blairite than Brownite. John Hutton, who said Mr Brown should be challenged for the Labour leadership, remains in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

"We're all Brownites now," is the Blairites' new mantra. Could there finally be an end to factionalism which has bedevilled Labour since 1994? It is too early to tell, but it could happen. "The crucial difference is that Gordon will not have a Gordon to handle," said one of the many "Blairites for Brown".

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