John Prescott, Gordon Brown, Jack Straw and Robin Cook have all performed to Mr Blair's satisfaction, give or take a few ups-and-downs.

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Boris now takes on the role once played by Michael Heseltine to Margaret Thatcher, Michael Portillo to John Major or Gordon Brown to Tony Blair.

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Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, Chancellor Gordon Brown and leader of the Commons Margaret Beckett have distanced themselves from the commitment although Culture Secretary Chris Smith said he supports a referendum.

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Little wonder that many senior members of Mr Blair's cabinet, including John Prescott, the deputy prime minister, Gordon Brown, the chancellor and Jack Straw, the home secretary, have let it be known that they would prefer to stick with the current first-past-the-post system.

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John Healey, who served as a local government minister under Gordon Brown, described the legislation as the "most fundamental change in local government funding since the poll tax".

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Alongside Gordon Brown in Westminster Abbey were former prime ministers Sir John Major and Baroness Thatcher.

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