Tony Blair has moved to haul Labour back on track with a cabinet reshuffle that puts discipline and fresh thinking top of the agenda.

Cunningham: A formidable operator

He has created an all-powerful cabinet enforcer, in the formidable shape of Jack Cunningham, charged with the task of ensuring ministers coordinate all policy initiatives and announcements.

He has again seized the nettle of welfare reform by clearing out the Department of Social Security and looking to whiz-kid Alistair Darling to finally kick it into shape.

And he has sent out the signal that the spin doctors must be reined in and discipline re-exerted - particularly over continuing talk of a Blair/Brown split in cabinet.

His spokesman said a lot of the government's recent troubles had been from personality clashes fuelled by spin doctors working for different ministers.

Fresh blood

After 15 months in power the prime minister has clearly identified some major weaknesses afflicting his government and moved to tackle them.

He has brought some fresh blood into the cabinet - which is now distinctly more New Labour than before - most notably in the shape of his closest adviser, Peter Mandelson and former schools minister Stephen Byers.

He has tried not to whip up fresh rumours of rows between the so-called Blairites and Brownies, by retaining their relative strengths in the cabinet.

And he has dumped those he believes weren't performing up to scratch.

Problem department dealt with

Harman: Surprise sacking

The greatest surprise here was his sacking of Social Security Secretary Harriet Harman.

Despite his personal loyalty towards the former minister, he is dismayed at the way welfare reform - one of Labour's key pre-election pledges - has been blown off course.

Her failure to effectively deal with the backbench rebellion over cuts in single parent benefits earlier this year effective sealed her fate.

It had been thought she would be given a junior role, but the most likely option, as minister for women, was handed to the new leader in the Lords, Baroness Jay.

Field: Resigned

But the attack on the department went further and led to the bitter resignation of her deputy Frank Field.

The free-thinking MP was brought into the department by Tony Blair to "think the unthinkable" on welfare.

But the proposal backfired dramatically and Mr Field's most radical proposals were abandoned after opposition from Chancellor Gordon Brown.

Mr Field argued for Tony Blair to give him a second chance, this time in the top job.

But the prime minister refused and, rather than accept another junior job, Mr Field decided to quit and concentrate on pursuing his pet theories from the back benches.

Maintaining the balance

There were also signs in the reshuffle of attempts to managed the alleged Blair/Brown split amongst ministers.

Mr Brown had wanted to protect Ms Harman and failed, but he had also been implacably opposed to Mr Mandelson winning the role as cabinet enforcer.

The two men are political opponents and Mr Brown feared his "enemy" would use the job to cut across the power of the Treasury.

Nick Brown: Moved to manage Agriculture

Mr Blair feared, if he gave Mr Mandelson the job, it could lead to fierce wrangling between the two camps.

On the other hand, Chief Whip Nick Brown - another ally of the chancellor's - was moved to the Agriculture job instead of being removed, as some had predicted.