Labour MPs are calling on Gordon Brown to promote English politicians because of fears that the number of Scottish ministers will cost the party at the general election.
Former minister Stephen Ladyman said: "It is important to recognise that the election is won or lost in England.
"We need to have English voices speaking and giving messages that make sense in English communities."
The Sunday Times reports that his views were echoed by Lindsay Hoyle MP, who said: "Voters are looking to see a better balance within the cabinet to ensure that all the regions of England are represented."
Keith Vaz, a member of Labour's ruling national executive committee and the chairman of the Commons home affairs committee, called for Brown to appoint an English deputy prime minister.
Vaz suggested that Jack Straw, the Essex-born justice secretary, should take over full responsibility for domestic and economic policy.
"Gordon has proved to me to be very effective. But now he has got a real opportunity to shake up the government. There is one way of proceeding without the necessity of a huge reshuffle. There is a post that is vacant at the moment and that is the post of deputy prime minister," Vaz said.
Other MPs believe that Alan Johnson and James Purnell should be given new roles as the English "spokesmen" for the government.
Meanwhile a leading ally of Tony Blair attacked the prime minister for being too "tentative".
Writing the Sunday Times, Alan Milburn said: "For all the blizzard of initiatives that emanate from Whitehall, Labour has yet to develop a coherent post-Blair agenda."
Milburn criticised Brown's draft Queen's speech, the centrepiece of his recent relaunch, and calls for radical tax cuts targeting the low paid.
The former minister concluded with a coded warning that the prime minister’s time is running out. "Change beckons once again," he said. "After a decade in office the question we have to be able to answer is: what next?"
It is understood that a small group of former Labour ministers are considering drafting a letter urging Brown to give a timetable for his departure.
It would be modelled on the open letter sent by supporters of Brown to Blair in 2006 which forced Blair to bring forward his resignation date.
