Tony Blair's and his Cabinet

Tony Blair

Prime Minister. Aged 43. Will be 44 tomorrow. The original moderniser who ruthlessly transformed his party into new Labour. Has achieved highest political office just 14 years after entering the Commons as MP for Sedgefield. Married to high-flying lawyer Cherie Booth. Three children aged 13, 11 and nine.

John Prescott

Deputy Prime Minister, in charge of environment, transport and the regions. Aged 58 The acceptable face of old Labour at the Cabinet table. Terrible syntax belies true brain power. A real grafter. MP for Hull East, married to glamorous wife, Pauline.

Gordon Brown

Chancellor of the Exchequer, 46 Stood aside to let Blair run for Labour leadership after John Smith's death. Key moderniser. Election pledge to be "iron Chancellor", to reassure voters that new Labour would not return to "tax and spend". Unmarried. MP for Dunfermline East.

Robin Cook

Foreign Secretary, 51 Hugely intelligent, sharp-tongued perfectionist. Old Labourite who reluctantly accepted modernisation. Relatively Eurosceptic. Not a Gordon Brown fan. Keen rider and racegoer. MP for Livingston, married with two sons.

Margaret Beckett

President of the Board of Trade, 54 Tough, competent, inscrutable. Formerly hard-Left. Defeated in parallel races for Labour leadership and deputy leadership after John Smith's death. Married to Leo. MP for Derby South.

Jack Straw

Home Secretary, 51 On the Right of the party. Accused by detractors of stealing Tory clothes after strong verbal attacks on beggars and squeegee merchants. Suggesting national curfew for young children. Married with two children. MP for Blackburn.

David Blunkett

Education and Employment Secretary, 50 Former leader of high-spending Sheffield council, now firmly ensconced in modernist camp. Advocates strong discipline in schools. Divorced with three sons, MP for Sheffield Brightside.

Donald Dewar

Scottish Secretary, 59 Popular, quick-thinking Scot who will implement Labour's devolution proposals. Former chief whip whose dour appearance belies excellent sense of humour. Never remarried after wife left him for Lord Irvine, the new Lord Chancellor. MP for Glasgow Anniesland.

Jack Cunningham

Agriculture Minister, 56 That rare bird, a Labour MP with ministerial experience (he was junior Energy Minister 1976 to 1979). Safe but unexciting pair of hands, which could be just the job after Douglas Hogg and BSE. Married with three children. MP for Copeland.

Lord Irvine of Lairg

Lord Chancellor, 57. As legal mentor to the young pupil lawyer Tony Blair, "Derry" Irvine was the man who introduced the future Prime Minister to Cherie Booth. Remains extremely close to the Blairs. Married to the ex-wife of the new Scottish Secretary, Donald Dewar.

George Robertson

Defence Secretary. Aged 51 Shadow Scottish Secretary (1993 to 1997), he had expected the job in cabinent but was moved sideway to MoD. MP for Hamilton South since 1978. Son of a policeman. Married Sandra in 1970, two sons, one daughter.

Frank Dobson

Health Secretary. 57 Shadow Minister for Environment (1994 to 1997). MP for Holborn and St Pancras since 1979. Married Janet in 1967, has one daughter and two sons. A former leader of Camden council in London. Old Labour but almost able to sing to the new tune.

Ann Taylor

President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons. 49 MP for Bolton West from 1974 to 1983 and then Dewsbury since 1987. Shadow Leader of the House (1993 to 1997). Was a member of last Labour Government. Married with one son and one daughter.

Harriet Harman

Social Security Secretary. 46 Shadow Employment Secretary (1994 to 1997). Married in 1982 to Jack Dromey, senior official at the Transport and General Workers Union; has two sons and one daughter.

Marjorie Mowlam

Northern Ireland Secretary. 47. Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary (1994 to 1997). Previously a spokesman on National Heritage matters, the citizen's charter, women's Affairs and the City. MP for Redcar since 1987. Married but no children.

Ron Davies

Welsh Secretary. 50 Shadow Welsh Secretary (1992 to 1989) MP for Caerphilly since 1983. Married Christina in 1981, has one daughter. Very much Old Labour but brought into line by the Blairites. Prompted row last year when he suggested abolition of monarchy.

Clare Short

International Development Secretary. 51 Overseas Development spokesman (1994 to 1997). MP for Birmingham Ladywood since 1983. Widowed. Reunited this year with son whom she gave up for adoption 30 years ago.

Lord Richard

Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the Lords. 64 Labour leader in the Lords since 1992. Trained as a barrister and is a QC. MP for Barons Court in West London from 1964 to 1974. Raised to peerage in 1990. Experienced and respected in the Lords.

David Clark

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. 57 Shadow Defence Secretary (1992 to 1997). MP for Colne Valley from 1970 to 1974, and then South Shields since 1979. Married Christine in 1970, has one daughter. Expecting Defence but was demoted.

Gavin Strang

Minister of Transport. 53. Shadow Agriculture Minister (1992 to 1997). Previously spokesman for employment and energy. Earlier life as a scientist. MP for Edinburgh East since 1970. Married Bettina in 1973, has one son.

Alistair Darling

Chief Secretary to Treasury. 43 Labour City spokesman (1992 to 1997). Married Margaret in 1986, has one son and one daughter. MP for Edinburgh Central since 1987.

Chris Smith

National Heritage Secretary. 45 Shadow Health Secretary (1996 to 1997). Appointment to look after the lottery seen as a demotion. MP for Islington South and Finsbury since 1983. One of the few openly gay MPs.

Nick Brown

Chief Whip. 46 Ex-union official. Former deputy chief whip for Labour. Close ally of Gordon Brown. Member of Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council 1980-83, MP for Newcastle-upon-Tyne East since June 1983.