Benn tipped to replace Miliband at DEFRA
UK - Hilary Benn is tipped to be confirmed as the new DEFRA secretary, replacing David Milband who has been promoted to the Foreign Office and steps once again into Margaret Beckett's shoes - she was his predecessor at DEFRA.
28 June 2007
2 minute read
Gordon Brown, who finally became Prime Minister yesterday (27 June), is expected to announce details of the rest of the rest of the DEFRA team later today.
Mr Benn time is a well-known figure in the Labour Party and has previously headed up the Department for International Development.
He is son of Tony Benn, the long serving former cabinet minister and icon of the Labour Left, although he has not inherited all of his father's ideas. He describes himself as "a Benn, but not a Bennite", and is a committed Labour moderniser.
Educated at Holland Park Comprehensive School, London and the University of Sussex, Hillary was elected to Ealing Borough Council in 1979, where he served as Deputy Leader of the Labour Group from 1985-1994. He was Deputy Leader of the Council and Chair of Education from 1986-1990.
Before entering Parliament he was a Special Adviser to David Blunkett. He is MP for Leeds Central and has been a Home Office minister from 2002-date.
Source: Fwi
