Howells leaves in Brown reshuffle

Kim Howells is said to be enthusiastic about his new role at Westminster Pontypridd MP Kim Howells is leaving government, after 11 years as a minister, in Gordon Brown's reshuffle. Dr Howells, 61, was a foreign office minister and one of the oldest members of the Labour administration. He said the prime minister had not explained his decision to him and had told him he was "changing ministers". Dr Howells takes over from Margaret Beckett as chair of the Security and Intelligence Committee, overseeing the work of MI5 and MI6. Ms Beckett is returning to government as the new housing minister. Dr Howells previous jobs have included culture spokesman and higher education minister. He has regularly made headlines because of his tendency for plain speaking. He once called the Royal Family "a bit bonkers" and described entries for... [read full story]