Gordon Brown expected to reshuffle Cabinet » Central Government » 24dash.com

Gordon Brown is expected to carry out a limited reshuffle of the Cabinet today.

Officials indicated yesterday that the Prime Minister would reorganise his frontbench team in the coming days, with today thought most likely as he is due in Paris tomorrow for an emergency summit with EU leaders on the global financial crisis.

Speculation of a widespread shake-up has cooled in the context of the world economic difficulties that have helped quieten a Labour internal revolt.

Mr Brown's spokesman insisted that the Prime Minister remained "focused very much on the economic situation and that is his overwhelming priority".

But a smaller-scale revamp has been enforced by the public revelation of Ruth Kelly's desire to quit as Transport Secretary to spend more time with her family. Ms Kelly also announced last night that she would be standing down from her Bolton West constituency at the next general election.

The Prime Minister may also seek to replace trade minister Lord Jones of Birmingham, who revealed in August that he intended to step down before the end of the year.

Former CBI chief Sir Digby Jones was made a peer as part of Mr Brown's aim to build a "government of all the talents", and given responsibility for promoting British business abroad. But he intends to return to the private sector.

Policing minister Tony McNulty has been linked with a possible promotion but refused to discuss the speculation yesterday, telling Sky News: "That's a matter entirely for the Prime Minister".

Immigration minister Liam Byrne, Housing minister Caroline Flint and Cabinet Office minister Ed Miliband have also been the subject of gossip linking them with a step up.

And Westminster rumours have also mentioned a Cabinet post for former deputy leadership contender Jon Cruddas - possibly to prevent him from becoming a leadership challenger supported by the left of the party.

But Mr Brown is unlikely to make any big changes, meaning Foreign Secretary David Miliband - who was widely seen to be positioning himself as a future Labour leader over the summer - should keep his job.

It would be a massive shock if Chancellor Alistair Darling was removed from guiding the economy and there is little appetite for Home Secretary Jacqui Smith or Justice Secretary Jack Straw to be replaced.

But it has been rumoured that Chief Whip Geoff Hoon could move on, possibly to become a European commissioner.