Brown plays down 'cabinet split'

Mr Brown wants to talk about policies

Gordon Brown has moved to calm speculation about a rift with Tony Blair over Alan Milburn's new job.

Mr Milburn has returned to the cabinet to take charge of election planning - a role normally filled by Mr Brown.

But Mr Brown told the BBC "it is not about the position, it is what you do" and the government would be judged on its economic record.

Earlier, John Prescott said paying Alan Milburn with taxpayers money to do a mainly party job was justified.

'No contradiction'

The deputy prime minister said Mr Milburn, who returned to frontline politics this week, had the "proper responsibilities of a cabinet minister".

The trouble with this government is that it cannot distinguish between the national interest and the Labour Party interest Lord Tebbit

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I'm the deputy leader of the party but I also do government things.

"We have a cabinet secretary to lay down these lines and he's made it very clear there's no contradiction."

Mr Prescott said speculation the chancellor had been sidelined as a result of the reshuffle was a "load of press waffle".

"What we are talking about is interpretation in the media ... it's a lot of press prattle, not true. Most of it's made up by the media and the press."

Tebbit 'astounded'

Asked in an interview with BBC economics editor Evan Davis if there were "two competing courts" at Number 10 and 11 Downing Street, Mr Brown said: "Not at all.

JUNIOR CHANGES Treasury Minister Ruth Kelly promoted to the Cabinet Office Stephen Timms moves from energy to Treasury Transport Minister Kim Howells takes on higher education Douglas Alexander switches from the Cabinet Office to Trade Education Minister Baroness Ashton swaps jobs with Constitutional Affairs Minister Lord Filkin Mike O'Brien changes to energy and commerce at the DTI Tom Watson becomes unpaid assistant whip In full: government changes Howells gets education job

"It's not the job or position or office you hold - that has ever bothered me. It is what you do as a government.

"My job is to rise to the global economic challenge to make sure that Britain has the strength to make the long-term economic decisions that affect our country."

Mr Brown, who is travelling to Brussels for a meeting of European finance ministers, said his attention was focused on economic issues rather than "personalities".

He said the question of whether Alan Milburn is paid out of public funds or not was a "matter for the cabinet secretary", who earlier ruled there was no conflict of interest.

Sir Andrew Turnbull said Mr Milburn was performing government jobs, such as overseeing the strategy and policy units, which were "rightly paid for by the government".

Party money

But Conservative peer Lord Tebbit, said he had not received "a penny of taxpayers money". when he had held Mr Milburn's post Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in Margaret Thatcher's cabinet.

"I am astounded that Mr Milburn, who is being employed as the organiser for Labour's general election campaign, should be paid out of taxation,"

Lord Tebbit continued: "The trouble with this government is that it cannot distinguish between the national interest and the Labour Party interest, nor between the public's money and the party's money."

He added: "I hope that Mr Milburn will answer questions in the House of Commons on his duties as the Labour Party's chief election agent as he is paid by the taxpayer for doing that work."

In the reshuffle, Treasury Minister Ruth Kelly was promoted into the Cabinet Office, with Stephen Timms taking over her job, sparking press speculation that she had been "poached" by Mr Milburn.

Transport Minister Kim Howells moves to higher education while Douglas Alexander, a key ally of Gordon Brown, moves to a trade role.

Mr Milburn's new job comes a year after he quit as health secretary to spend more time with his family.

He said the prime minister had persuaded him back to the frontline ahead of an election predicted for next year.