SPECULATION was mounting last night that Labour Chief Whip Donald Dewar will be the Secretary of State for Scotland if Labour wins the General Election. Labour sources suggested it was likely Mr Dewar would be in the Scottish Office but insisted the Labour leader was not offering Cabinet posts to colleagues until he had won.
It is widely known that Mr Dewar did not want to be the Chief Whip, but until recently he has been named as the probable Leader of the House or a ''constitutional overlord''. A long time supporter of devolution, if he did take up the reins in the Scottish Office he would work with Lord John Sewel to guide the difficult legislation for a Scottish Parliament through its parliamentary stages.
Shadow Scottish Secretary George Robertson fully expects to be in the Cabinet and has been suggested for either a Minister of Europe or Secretary of State for Defence.
Although Labour leader Tony Blair would not be drawn on the make-up of his Cabinet it appeared more than probable last night that neither Clare Short nor Michael Meacher will be in the first Cabinet. Deputy Shadow Chief Whip, Nick Brown and veteran Shadow Cabinet member Frank Dobson have been named as likely Chief Whips.
If Labour wins John Prescott will be the Deputy Prime Minister with responsibilities that have already been agreed between with Mr Blair; Gordon Brown will be Chancellor of the Exchequer; Robin Cook, Foreign Secretary; Jack Straw, Home Secretary and David Blunkett, Education. Alastair Darling is expected to be Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
The Cabinet Secretary, Sir Robin Butler irritated Labour's campaign team last night when he revealed the Labour leader's plans to move into No 10 Downing Street.
Sir Robin told journalists the Blairs would move from their Islington home. Sir Robin's remarks undermined Labour's tactics of maintaining they were taking nothing for granted. Mr Blair's spokesman described the comments as ''inaccurate, unhelpful and inappropriate'' and insisted that no personal arrangements had been decided, nor would be until after the election.
''We are making absolutely no comment on any speculation on any of Mr Blair's personal arrangements for after the election. We are concentrating on getting the vote out and winning.''
Sir Robin also revealed plans had been made in the Department of Education and Employment for David Blunkett who is expected to be Britain's first blind Cabinet Minister in the event of a Labour win.
It is understood officials have ''discussed with him how he works''.
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