British Prime Minister Gordon Brown appointed a business leader, an eminent surgeon and a former head of the Royal Navy to junior posts today, as part of his push to build a government "of all the talents".
The Conservatives criticised some of Brown's new team members, saying the new leader was carrying on where Tony Blair left off in hiring "political cronies".
Brown named Digby Jones, former chief of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) as trade and investment minister, a junior post with responsibility to promote British business.
Jones was one of a number of appointments from outside parliament and the ruling Labour Party.
Brown, who succeeded Blair on Wednesday, also named Richard Branson, billionaire and chairman of the Virgin Group, and Alan Sugar, chief executive officer of Amstrad Plc, to sit on his Business Council for Britain, a group which will advise his government on policy issues facing companies.
He also tapped Damon Buffini, managing partner of Permira, for the council, a move that could spark controversy as the Labour government is reviewing whether to change tax rules that could benefit private equity firms.
Buffini defended the record of his industry this month before a parliamentary committee that is reviewing tax laws.
Mervyn Davies, chairman of Standard Chartered, will chair the council, which can also make reform recommendations.
Brown has sought to mark a clear break with the Blair years in forming his government. Blair was criticised for deciding policy with a small cabal of advisers.
Brown named Alan West, former Royal Navy head, as Home Office minister for security and former Metropolitan Police head John Stevens as senior adviser on international security.
Stevens' appointment came the same day police defused a car bomb in London's busy theatre district. It was welcomed by the Conservatives, who said they hoped it would lead to more "measured response to the security threats we face".
Brown also appointed Sir Ara Darzi, a prominent surgeon, to a junior ministerial post in the Department of Health.
But his naming of Shriti Vadera to a post in the Department for International Development was slammed by the Conservatives. Vadera, formerly of investment bank UBS Warburg, advised Brown when he was chancellor.
"Far from bringing a new tone to British politics, Gordon Brown is following on where Tony Blair left off in appointing an unelected, close political crony to ministerial office," said Conservative parliamentarian Chris Grayling.
Brown named two Liberal Democrat members of the House of Lords to junior posts in a bid to reach out across party lines. He failed earlier this week to convince Paddy Ashdown, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, to take a cabinet post.