The Times reports that John Spellar has left the govt.

Hain, Hanson and Rooker mean a more heavyweight team than before. NI Parties may find this challenging (and a little less friendly than before).

The portfolios will be important - one likely one is that Jeff Rooker will get DCAL as dealing with Lord Laird is a full time job in itself. I wonder do they teach Ulster Scots in Birmingham.

Woodward is a well known name from his defection from the Tories.

Pearson was a talented chap, I wonder if he has been promoted or was he a Brownite?

Spotted this on the UTV site:

After his first walkabout around Belfast City Centre since taking over the job from Paul Murphy, Mr Hain, who is also the Secretary of State for Wales, insisted the post had not been downgraded.

He said: "The Prime Minister made it clear that he will keep a very hands-on approach to the whole process for securing peace and building the institutions.

"It is very, very important to him and it is important to the whole of the government.

"It`s an absolute priority, he told me when he appointed me on Friday night.

"(The Prime Minister`s chief of staff) Jonathan Powell`s involvement is also crucial to that, but I intend to take myself a very direct, leading role in this alongside the Prime Minister and we will work together in partnership."

Hain's first cock-up then - saying his post hasn't been downgraded, then immediately saying the PM and Powell will be running the show.

*slaps forehead in despair*

Frankly, the last thing a drive for a settlement needs right now is Powell. Neither give a toss about NI really - but Blair needs to sort out his place in the history books before Brown muscles in, and Powell is just concerned about potential IRA bombs in London.

Both are far too keen to indulge 'process' for my liking, and neither are straight with us. Maybe Hain will shake things up. Doubt it though.

Gonzo

I agree with your assessment.

Wish Brown would take over soon.

Jeff Rooker is a lovely man but no rocket scientist!

Not to worry. He won't be dealing with rocket scientists . Hopefully Hain will put the boot in with Paisley where it hurts .

Repartition has to be considered as an alternative to another 40 years of farting about IMHO!

The usual line up of rejects then. Probably make it over once a month for a round of golf and a nice chat about getting along so good olde Tony can leave with a nice legacy.

How many days did the last lot make it to over here?

Greenflag/Greendub

You're not going to start going on about repartition here too, are you? ;o)

"You're not going to start going on about repartition here too, are you? ;o)"

Why not?

It's as good a solution as any of those others proposed by those silly bastards in London.

Just think about it. Year after year you get a passel of ridiculous losers sent over to the six counties as so called Northern Ireland secretaries of state when everyone knows they have no power to do anything and not a lick of knowelege of the situation.

So yes, his silly notion is as good as the idea of presenting fools to the folks of northern Ireland.

Repartition has to be considered as an alternative to another 40 years of farting about IMHO!

Yeah, ethnic cleansing is just, like, way cool.