Labour's general election co-ordinator Alan Milburn has said he does not want to return to the cabinet.

In what is bound to be seen as a blow to Tony Blair, Milburn said that he had been thinking about his personal future during the campaign.

"I've never really changed my mind during the course of the last few months and have decided I want to see my kids grow up," he said.

In his Cabinet reshuffle, Tony Blair is expected to welcome back David Blunkett, the former home secretary.

Blunkett, who was forced to quit last December, is earmarked for a swift comeback as the Cabinet's 'enforcer' and progress-chaser with a brief to drive through the public service reforms outlined in the Labour manifesto.

Others tipped for promotion to the Cabinet include David Miliband, a Cabinet Office minister who may become chief secretary to the Treasury, Home Office minister Hazel Blears and health minister John Hutton.