WHO'S WHO IN THE NEXT RESHUFFLE

THE APPOINTMENT of George Robertson as Nato Secretary General, expected tomorrow, means that the Prime Minister will now have to shake up his ministerial team yet again in the autumn. Last week's reshuffle was about improving the "engine room" of government, the junior ministerial ranks who have to implement policies; the next one is likely to tackle the machine itself. Ministers are bracing themselves for many more changes at Cabinet level to put in place the team which will fight the next general election.

Westminster is already buzzing with speculation that Mr Robertson will be replaced as Defence Secretary by John Reid, now Scottish Secretary, who was popular and effective as a junior minister at the MoD. Mr Reid's job could then be taken by Brian Wilson who has just been moved into a junior role at the Scottish Office. Calum Macdonald, a surprise sacking in the recent reshuffle, could be reinstated at the Scottish Office at a junior level.

These changes would not impact on the rest of the Cabinet, but the shake- up is likely to be wider. Mo Mowlam could be brought back from Ulster in October if the peace process is on track - possibly either in the role of Cabinet "enforcer", even though she has made it clear she does not want to become the "Minister for Newsnight", or as Labour's candidate for mayor of London. Another possibility would be for the Prime Minister to twist Frank Dobson's arm into putting his name forward to run the capital, leaving the health portfolio open for the current Northern Ireland Secretary. Paul Boateng, Ian McCartney, Hilary Armstrong, Geoff Hoon and Tessa Jowell could all gain promotion. Margaret Beckett, Jack Cunningham and Ann Taylor will have to endure more rumours that they are for the chop.

By the autumn, Mr Blair also is likely to feel that Peter Mandelson, the former Trade and Industry Secretary, has served enough time on the backbenches following his resignation over his home loan. He could go to Northern Ireland, the Foreign Office as Minister for Europe, or into the Culture department - just in time to oversee the opening of the Millennium Dome.