London - Scottish devolution and the recent death of the Transport Minister, Mr Derek Fatchett, are expected to inform the choices of the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, when he shuffles his cabinet on Monday, Rachel Donnelly reports. The shuffle will be on a small scale, but with the new First Minister in Scotland, Mr Donald Dewar, unlikely to remain as Scottish Secretary, the front-runner to take the post is his deputy at the Scottish Office, Ms Helen Liddell. The other name being suggested is that of the Transport Minister, Mr John Reid.
The Conservative leader, Mr William Hague, is expected to shuffle his shadow cabinet some time after the European elections on June 10th. He was given more room for manoeuvre yesterday when the shadow home secretary, Sir Norman Fowler, announced he is stepping down at the next shuffle.