For Beverley, read Dawn

Amindst the chaos of the past few days in Westminster, we now know that Ed Balls will remain as Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families.  Only two years after its creation, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills is no more, with its constituent parts returning from whence they came, meaning DCSF (will it still be called that next week?) takes back responsibility for Further and Higher Education.  What a waste of money that experiment proved to be.  We also know that Dawn Primarolo will replace Beverley Hughes as Minister for Children, Schools and Families.  Whilst she is little known outside Westminster, Primarolo is one of the Prime Minister's closest allies, having served as Paymaster General under Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor from 1999-2007.  She will attend cabinet meetings and the inflential pairing of Primarolo and Balls is sure to mean that the children's and young people's agenda is at the top of the Prime Minister's mind over the months to come.  But of course all this could change on Monday, depending on the machinations of the Labour party backbenchers.  Follow me with all the political gossip on Twitter (adamdnichols) over the weekend.