Tony Blair's reshuffle of junior ministers concluded on Thursday with Brown protege Douglas Alexander losing out.

The main changes see Ruth Kelly, an associate of the chancellor who also enjoys sound relations with Tony Blair, moved sideways to act as Alan Milburn's deputy at the Cabinet Office.

Kelly replaces Alexander who loses his election planning role and now becomes trade minister in what is seen as a temporary demotion.

Kelly's Treasury position has been given to Stephen Timms, who was energy and e-commerce minister at the DTI.

Timms has already been financial secretary  between July 1999 and June 2001.

His DTI role will be filled by Mike O'Brien, the trade minister who is replaced by Alexander.