Kinnock scrapped as Europe minister

Monday, 12 October 2009 12:00 AM

By Alex Stevenson

Glenys Kinnock has been replaced as Europe minister after just months in the job.

The Labour peer and wife of the party's former leader Neil Kinnock was appointed to take over from Caroline Flint in the post in Gordon Brown's leadership-saving reshuffle this spring.

Now she has had her responsibilities for Europe stripped from her portfolio. She will take over responsibility for Africa, which had remained vacant since Mark Malloch-Brown left the government this summer.

The Europe portfolio goes to Chris Bryant, the Foreign Office's parliamentary undersecretary of state. His existing responsibilities include South America, the Olympics and public diplomacy.

Mr Bryant announced his appointment on Twitter earlier this morning. "Off to work with a new job - minister for Europe," he tweeted.

Downing Street refused to rebuke him for breaking the news in this way. The prime minister's spokesman said: "I don't think the prime minister has any concerns about colleagues using all forms of modern technology to communicate to wider groups."

No 10 confirmed he would not sit in Cabinet when issues relating to Europe are discussed, unlike predecessors Caroline Flint and Geoff Hoon.

The decision to hand European responsibilities to Mr Bryant but retain him in his present rank is likely to fuel claims that the government has downgraded its attitude towards the continent.

Tags:
• eu british relations
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• europe
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• foreign policy