The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, conceded yesterday that his government and some ministers had to "improve things and do better". But as speculation continued over the futures of some ministers, he insisted that he would announce the Cabinet reshuffle in his own way, in his own time.
His candid admission that not everything had gone according to plan during the government's first two years in office came as he introduced the government's second annual report - a thin booklet which is on sale in Tesco at £2.99, in bookshops and on the Internet - during a visit to a hospital in east London.
The report, which included a four-page introduction by Mr Blair, said that the government had carried out more than half of its manifesto promises. It showed that of 177 Labour pledges in 1997, 90 had been met, 85 were under way and just two were outstanding. These are a commitment to introduce legislation enabling directly-elected regional government, and a housing initiative to introduce commonhold.
The government report reads as an annual check-list of achievements, but contains more detail on successes than on areas that critics have highlighted in recent months, such as transport and class sizes.
In his introduction Mr Blair said the government had made "good progress" in some areas, such as modernising the National Health Service, ending votes for hereditary peers and introducing a minimum wage. But in other important fields it would take more time to achieve its goals.
On transport, the report said that making a "fragmented and frustratingly poor privatised rail system" deliver punctual, efficient services would take time, but a start had been made. There was no mention, however, of the crippling problems facing the poorly-funded Tube system in London, where work is two years behind schedule.
On class sizes, the government was said to be "on course" with its pledge to cut all classes to 30 for all five- to seven-year-olds. But this was seen as a veiled admission that the target had not yet been achieved. The Education Minister, Mr Charles Clarke, aptly chose the publication of the report to tell teachers that the government was considering setting new targets for class sizes as a means of "driving up standards," but his announcement was short on detail.
The report also reviewed ministers' achievements in the past year. This is likely to prove difficult reading for some, including the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr John Prescott, who handles transport policy, the environment and the regions.
He has faced fierce criticism over the government's roads policy amid rising journey times and traffic jams. Although his critics believe that Mr Blair will decide to divide responsibility for transport between two ministers, Mr Prescott is understood to be resisting the move.
The Conservative leader, Mr William Hague, described the government as a "manana administration," and accused Mr Blair of failing to deliver on promises on class sizes, transport and health. "The government are seriously letting people down. They are failing to deliver on their pledges," he added.
Mr Blair is minded to announce the reshuffle "in my own way, in my own time," he said yesterday. The future role of the Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr Mo Mow lam, is the most keenly awaited in political circles. She has insisted there is much work for her to do in Northern Ireland and last week publicly stated her wish to remain in situ. But Dr Mowlam has gone on holiday with her family, sparking speculation of a rift with No 10. The timing of her departure is unusual because ministers are usually on hand to accept any new post the Prime Minister may wish to offer them.