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Reshuffle by end of the week
The prime minister has confirmed that the reshuffle will not be announced today but will be completed "by the end of the week".
Addressing the media inside Downing Street, Tony Blair also moved to dismiss claims that Gordon Brown has vetoed the return of Alan Milburn.
Adding that the government was the most "ideologically united" in history, he said no minister had a final say over who is appointed.
Following the resignation of Andrew Smith senior Labour sources have hit out at Downing Street following a briefing campaign against at least one minister.
But the resignation of work and pensions secretary Smith has already led to bloodletting within Labour ranks.
Smith quit on Monday after a series of media reports suggested he was set to be removed from his department.
Blair denied he had been at odds with the minister. He told reporters that "there was no disagreement on policy at all between us".
The prime minister went on to say that Smith's resignation should not be seen through the prism of Blair versus Brown.
"From time to time people step down from government," he said.
"From time to time people will decide, particularly if they have been many years in government, that they don't want to be in government. That is fine."
He denied that the chancellor has an effective veto over who is appointed to the government.
But the prime minister is facing accusations that he has once again moved to damage the standing of the chancellor and his supporters.
Dropped?
Ivan Henderson, the Labour MP for Harwich and PPS to the former pensions secretary, says Smith was aware of speculation that he was set to be dropped.
"Andrew is a chap who is quite quiet but also quite determined in making sure he does well for the government," he told the BBC.
"He has been a very loyal government member within the Cabinet and in his ministerial positions in the past."
Smith's resignation has once again called into question the operation of the Downing Street media machine.
Labour MP Frank Field has called on the prime minister to halt briefings against ministers following Smith's departure.
Speaking on Tuesday he said: "I think what is despicable is that this resignation comes against a background where Number 10 has been briefing against one of the members of the Cabinet.
"That sort of behaviour has gone on for too long in the government and the prime minister ought to stop it."
Jump?
Meanwhile Smith has been speaking out following his decision to resign.
He denied he jumped before being pushed and rejected claims that his seat could fall to the Lib Dems.
"I have been thinking about the best way of carrying forward my contribution to public life and discussed it with Val," he told the Oxford Mail.
"There is never an easy or perfect time to leave, but this is the right decision.
"I have always worked hard for my constituency, but cynics will say I have chosen to leave the government just because there is a general election coming around.
"If you are asking me whether I left because I feel my Oxford East seat is under pressure, then the answer is no.
"The prime minister and I had an amicable meeting, but whenever anything like this happens there is bound to be speculation.
"I didn't have a bust-up with the prime minister over benefit reforms.
"In fact, we have been developing reforms like housing benefit and new opportunities for incapacity benefit and these take time to work through and take effect.
"This is the right decision. When you do a demanding job your family really do pay the price. I'm glad to be able to have more time with them."
The prime minister is expected to reshuffle his senior team on Thursday - completing the junior ranks on Friday.
Those tipped for promotion include Ruth Kelly, David Miliband, Elliot Morley and Stephen Twigg.
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