The Magic Roundabout?

Gordon Brown does it again - we have a new cabinet within Government. That's right, now more people with whom we're uncertain about and we don't trust.

Within the New Labour years, British politics has gone off course, or maybe it's evolving. Labour clipped its left wing, and the Conservatives their right. Everyone is moving to the middle, to be safe and unadventurous, and ironically the centrally-orientated Lib Dems are still overlooked.

So who is in the cabinet now? Mostly, it's the same. The so called "re-shuffle" has seen only a few people move in, out and swap places. That doesn't particularly sound like change at all, more likely just an attempt at reclaiming at least some of their damaged reputation.

Most notably is Peter Mandelson, a former close friend of Brown, but a supporter of Blair when it came to choosing a leader. This is his third return, following resignation over a dodgy loan deal and allegedly providing passports to Indian businessmen. That said, Mandelson was one of the founders of New Labour, and so his arrival as Business Secretary is probably a good move, even if a little bold and more than a little unexpected.

As for the other changes, Ed Milliband is now in the new role as Energy and Climate Change Secretary, and John Hutton has replaced Des Browne as the Defence Secretary.

The old faces are still around though. Alistair Darling is still the Chancellor, even though the formerly solid, reliable character has buckled under the pressure of being Chancellor and is struggling to cope with the current financial crisis.

David Milliband is still Foreign Secretary, which is pleasing, given he is tipped to be the future leader of New Labour, and also the fact he's the only existing member who seemed to do his job properly, by which I mean he didn't cock up.

And the likes of Jack Straw, Harriet Harman and Jacqui Smith all remain where they were.

Change for change's sake is bad. Change for necessity is good. For once, Gordon Brown has made what would seem to be the right moves. Hopefully his decisions pay off, as Britain needs a strong leader, and if he doesn't take up the mantle then it's going to be a long wait for the next General Election.