Des Browne at defence ... Gawd help 'im Sarge

So in place of feisty no nonsense Reid, the Prime Minister has chosen a boring middle cass Scottish Solicitor renowned for his interest in Human Rights legislation lthough support for Celtic may have given him some experience of fighting in the front line. The RT. Hon. Des Browne, a "safe" pair of hands allegedly.... and it means Tony Blair is now effectively Commander in Chief.

Des entered Parliament in 1997 having inherited the safe seat of retiring MP William McKelvey.His proudest acheievement he claims is introducing a private members bill to track drug dealers. Which should help as the previous Minister's son is married to the daughter of one of the most notorious Glasgow drug dealers and gangsters.

PPS to late lamented Donald Dewar when he entered the Westminster Palace of fun in 1997 he has progressed steadily and silently, PPS to John Reid and then via the Northern Ireland Office 2001/2003, a brief spell as Minister of State at Work and Pensions and then in 2004 Nationality, Immigration and Asylum at the Home Office replacing the inept Beverly Hughes. Released from that vale of sorrows and now escaping the contumely heaped upon that office, a year ago joined fellow Scot Gordon Brown as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

In the House his voting has been 100% for the Government line on every issue. Full details here

It was whilst in this office he received the impramatur of official support by being received into the Privy Council.

Educated in the drear Ayrshire village of Kilwinning at St Michaels Academy, and Glasgow University then qualified as an advocate 1976 and was subsequently called to the Scottish Bar in 1993.

Professionally he specialised in child and family law and was embroiled in the controversial Orkney child sex abuse case. As a result he had been involved in planning the Child Support Agency.

Not a man we can see summoning up the actions of a tiger. But a man who will without fail support the Prime Minister and the status quo. Tony Blair has taken over at the MOD. So takes over the role of Geoffrey Gormless Hoon (now Cabinet seatless EU Obergruppensturmfuehrer) over Iran as he did over Iraq.