Tony Blair is planning to give women top jobs in every government department following criticism over Labour's disbanding of the women's unit.

Those tipped for promotion are Ruth Kelly, aide to agriculture minister Nick Brown, Oona King and Angela Smith, aide to Home Office minister Paul Boateng. Tipped to rise further are e-commerce minister, Patricia Hewitt, Foreign Office minister Baroness Scotland, Home Office minister Barbara Roche and minister for women Tessa Jowell.