Gordon Brown finally entered 10 Downing Street on 27 June as prime minister – the role he has coveted for the best part of a decade – and immediately vowed to adhere to his old school motto, “I will try my utmost.”

During his first speech as prime minister, Brown said: “I will build a government that uses all the talents; I will invite men and women of goodwill to contribute their energies in a new spirit of public service to make our nation what it can be.”

No sooner had Brown crossed the threshold of number 10, ironically the official residence of the ‘First Lord of the Treasury’, than he got his teeth into one of the most radical Cabinet overhauls of all time which, coincidentally, resulted in ten sackings, resignations or demotions.

Treasury chest
Long-time supporter of Brown, Alistair Darling, was handed the keys to number 11 – although just how much autonomy he will enjoy in the role remains to be seen.

The rumours are that Brown may split the Treasury in two – an Office of the National Budget and a separate body looking after regulatory matters. Darling had long been favourite to take over Brown’s former role and will work alongside Andy Burnham, who was appointed chief secretary to the Treasury.

Brown completed his shake-up of the Treasury team with a change of personnel. The watered down title of paymaster general was handed to Olympics minister Tessa Jowell, while former chief secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Timms, was appointed as Hutton’s deputy.

New departments
John Hutton was asked to lead a new Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform – a cut-down version of the DTI – while John Denham was appointed secretary of state for another new department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). DIUS will be responsible for the development of science, research and innovation.

The voice of business
Sir Digby Jones, former director general of the Confederation of British Industry, was handed a junior role in Brown’s government in a move that will see him step down from his Deloitte role. Sir Digby is to become minister of state for trade and investment in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. He will also chair UK Trade and Investment to help push the case for British business.

Sir Digby said he was looking forward to “banging the drum for British business”.

Foreign trade
Efforts to broker a world trade deal will be spearheaded by Douglas Alexander, who was appointed as the head of an enlarged international development brief. The new body will share responsibility for trade policy with Hutton’s department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory reform.