British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has carried out an extensive reshuffle of his cabinet following his re-election.
The new Northern Ireland Secretary is Peter Hain, who was the leader of the House of Commons during the last parliament.
He was previously involved with the 'Time to Go" movement which advocated a phased British withdrawal from the North and eventual reunification of Ireland.
His predecessor in the Northern Ireland job, Paul Murphy, is leaving the government to become the new chairman of the Westminster parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee.
Gordon Brown remains as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw also holds on to his old job.
But Geoff Hoon has been moved from Defence and has been replaced by the former Health Secretary John Reid.
Blair loyalist David Blunkett makes a return to the cabinet as Work and Pensions Secretary following his resignation last year after allegations surrounding an affair with a married woman.
Tony Blair was returned to power but with a reduced majority in the general election.
Labour won 355 seats, with the Conservatives on 197 and Liberal Democrats on 62.
Mr Blair admitted this morning that the Iraq war had been divisive and he promised to listen to the wishes of the British people.
Both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties made modest gains in the election.
The Conservative leader, Michael Howard, described the result as a real advance for his party.
The Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy, said the election had ushered in the era of three-party politics in Britain.
Labour had a 36% share of the vote with the Conservatives on 33% and the Liberal Democrats on 22%.
Former Labour stalwart George Galloway, now heading the new Respect coalition, defeated the sitting Labour MP Oona King in Bethnal Green and Bow.
Three junior ministers lost their seats, while Labour defector Peter Law won the Welsh seat of Blaenau Gwent as an Independent.
