As speculation over Labour's expected second term cabinet grows, the FT tips schools standards minister Estelle Morris for a top ministerial job. Tony Blair is widely believed to be sensitive to the low profile of women in the government following the sacking of Harriet Harman as social secretary in 1998.

Along with other media tipsters, the FT believes that David Blunkett will replace Jack Straw at the Home Office but tips Straw to head-up the DETR ahead of a wider reshuffle and move to the Foreign Office later in the parliament when the DETR is set to be reorganised.