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A look behind the scenes at Westminster with Steve Richards. Margaret Beckett discusses her experience of being in Tony Blair's cabinet.

Steve Richards looks behind the scenes at Westminster this week.

Much has been said about the conduct of Tony Blair's cabinet, particularly in relation to the war in Iraq. Margaret Beckett was foreign secretary from 2006 to 2007 and before that secretary of state for the environment. She talks of her own experience in cabinet.

A new group, Charter 2010, has launched a website arguing that a hung parliament could be beneficial in the current financial circumstances, if properly planned for. Lord Owen and Labour peer Lord Chandos, founding members of this group, make the case for stable power sharing.

This week the left-wing Compass group held a conference in London on the future of the centre-left in Europe. Neal Lawson of Compass and Thorben Albrecht of Germany's SPD analyse the problems they face.

It seems many of the posts for parliamentary private secretaries are not being filled at the moment. Former MP Gyles Brandeth reveals the secrets of this particular path to power.

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30 minutes

Last on

Sat 23 Jan 2010 11:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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16/01/2010

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30/01/2010

See all episodes from The Week in Westminster

Chapters

  • Margaret Beckett

    Margaret Beckett talks about her time in Tony Blair's cabinet during the period before the invasion of Iraq.

    Duration: 07:35

  • Charter 2010

    Former SDP leader, Lord Owen, and Labour peer, Lord Chandos - founding members of Charter 2010 - make the case for stable power-sharing in a hung parliament.

    Duration: 06:53

  • Future of the Centre Left

    Neal Lawson of the Compass group, and Thorben Albrecht, of Germany's Social Democratic Party ('SPD'), analyse why the centre left seems to be losing voters' support.

    Duration: 06:13

  • Gyles Brandreth

    The diarist and former Tory MP, Gyles Brandreth, reveals all about the role of the Parliamentary Private Secretary

    Duration: 06:58

Broadcast

  • Sat 23 Jan 2010 11:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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