Appointed

Remember these guys who used to run Northern Ireland?

Pearson and Gardiner have got their promotions and are now Ministers at the home office, specifically Minister for Trade at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and *gasp* Parliamentary Secretary at the Department for Productivity Energy and Industry respectively. Mr Spellar is presumably returning to the back bench.

These guys are their replacements:

Lord Jeffrey Rooker
He doesn't have to be elected any more, now that he's a Lord.
NIO Minister for agriculture, regional development, and finance and personnel.


David Hanson
Member of Parliament for Delyn (Wales)
NIO Minister for political development, criminal justice, culture and social development.


Shaun Woodward
Member of Parliament for St. Helens South (oop North)
Junior NIO Minister for security, prisons, environment and health.
Used to be a Conservative MP until he jumped ship in 1999

Angela Smith has left the health department to take over education and trade.

They'll probably make it over here about once a month for a round of golf and a chat with the paddies to see if they can't all get along. Perhaps.