Brown to appoint new generation of women ministers

Gordon Brown is to bring more women into the Government with influential roles for a new generation of female ministers.

The Chancellor is also planning to continue to offer jobs to figures outside the Labour Party, despite the collapse of talks with the Liberal Democrats which ended in recriminations last week.

Lord Dearing, the independent peer whose inquiry into higher education recommended university fees, is among those likely to be approached. Lord Laming, the cross-bench peer who carried out an inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbié, has also been tipped for a job.

Lord Stevens, the former police chief, turned down a role in the Government but is expected to sit on a new advisory committee on law enforcement.

Mr Brown will not finalise his Government until after the results for the Labour deputy leadership are announced today in Manchester.

Last night, Alan Johnson was the bookies' favourite to win, with Harriet Harman, who is expected to be given an important job in Government regardless of the result, in second place.

Jon Cruddas, the backbench MP who has run a strong challenge to become deputy Labour leader, is also expected to be offered a key job in the Government.

Mr Brown will today make a speech accepting the leadership of the Labour Party before taking over from Tony Blair as Prime Minister on Wednesday.

In a television interview broadcast today, Mr Brown will heap praise on Tony Blair as an outstanding Prime Minister. Mr Blair is expected to return the compliment when he attends the leader's speech. Yesterday, Mr Blair, in his final foreign trip as Prime Minister, met the Pope, increasing speculation that he plans to covert to Catholicism.

Mr Brown's first week in office will be packed with reforming initiatives designed to win back the momentum that the Government has lost. He has told friends that he wants to see more women in the Government and is expected to bring in figures including Angela Eagle MP, a member of the party's National Executive Committee, and Mary Creagh, MP for Wakefield. Ministers tipped for promotion include Angela Smith, Vera Baird, Caroline Flint and Yvette Cooper. Mr Brown's determination to make his first Government female-friendly may lead to a reprieve for Ruth Kelly. Her future was in doubt last night after she came under fire from colleagues over her handling of plans to establish super-councils throughout England.

Leaked documents seen by The Independent on Sunday, show that Ms Kelly is under attack from ministers who have complained her plans will not only cost too much but could damage schools and children's services. The documents, copied to the Prime Minister and head of the civil service, show local government ministers have been lobbied by Labour figures to create new super-councils in areas where they will damage the Tories.

Last night, Caroline Spelman, the Shadow local government minister, accused the Government of "gerrymandering" and said it was guilty of a monumental waste of public money.

The leaked documents, marked "restricted policy", show that Ms Kelly has been sharply criticised by Stephen Timms, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and Alan Johnson, the Secretary of State for Education, over her plans.

* A poll for The Observer shows 40 per cent of voters think Mr Brown would be the most capable prime minister, compared to 22 per cent for David Cameron.

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