UK: Will Brown be good news for the third sector?

Gordon Brown has announced that Ed Miliband, former Minister for the Third Sector, will replace Hilary Armstrong as Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. In his first day as prime minister Brown has entirely reshuffled the Cabinet in attempt to gain the public?s trust in politics. But what is in store for Britain?s third sector?

Ed Miliband?s new position places him in full charge of the voluntary sector and means he will have a crucial role in coordinating policy across government.

Third sector organisations applauded Brown?s decision. ?We had our fingers crossed for this,? said Stephen Bubb, chief executive of Acevo. ?Its brilliant news and shows that in a Brown Britain the third sector will remain crucial to building social and economic cohesion."

Miliband said he was honoured and privileged to be appointed to the Cabinet. ?The challenge for the new government is to respond to the Prime Minister's call to meet new priorities, involve people in new ways in decision-making and reach out to all people who believe in a more just society? he said.

Some of the other challenges Brown faces are reinstating the parliament?s authority and gaining public support. Yesterday?s special Cabinet meeting is taken as a sign that cabinet government may well be restored, a move that many welcome after the Blair regime. Gordon Brown?s spokesman said that ? the Prime Minister wants to set out very clearly the manner in which his government will operate and the importance that he attaches to engaging the public in the political process and restoring trust in the political process?.

In the government shake-up there is more good news for the third sector. The National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning will be led by a woman with an impressive career in local government and the third sector. The National Programme for the Third Sector is part of the Third Office's public services action plan and has the aim of skills and capacities building in the public sector to improve understanding about how the third sector can help in the design, delivery and improvement of public services.

Sarah Wood, who is to be the Programme?s Director, has in the past worked as Senior Director of Social Care in Strathclyde, interim Director of Resources for the Border & Immigration Agency and is the Trustee of several associations, including the National Association of Voluntary and Community Associations, Commissioner of the Public Works Loan Board and a Senior Consultant for Caret.

?Sarah Wood boasts a wealth of understanding of local government and the third sector, and her experience and expertise will prove invaluable in making this important programme a success,? said Ed Miliband.

Last but not least comes the announcement of David Miliband (Ed Miliband?s older brother) as Foreign Secretary. Former Minister of the Environment, he does not only have green issues at heart, but is very much committed to promoting collective responsibility and public participation (see his blog) in politics.

At 41, he is the youngest Foreign Minister since 1977. Despite this many believe he is the right man for the job. ?It is a really interesting appointment? said the executive director of the European Council of Foreign Relations, Mark Leonard, ?he?s a real internationalist?.

Gordon Brown may be a euro-sceptic, but Miliband, who is also known for not approving the war in Iraq, favours an open approach to Europe. In 2001 he was one of a group of foreign policy intellectuals who called for institutional reform in the EU and his colleagues confirm his involvement, behind the scenes, in foreign policy debates especially concerning Europe. Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform said that his appointment was ?an inspired choice?. It thus seems likely that one of his priorities will be to build on a common European position.

More info:

• www.idea.gov.uk
• www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
• www.pm.gov.uk