UK: Margaret Beckett became Britain's first female Foreign Secretary today

"Margaret Beckett will start work today with a daunting inbox, a set of issues that have been around for a while but which are all reaching crisis point" Richard Beeston, The Times Diplomatic Editor, writes in a opinion piece on the challenges facing Margaret Beckett, the veteran minister who became Britain's first female Foreign Secretary today.

Margaret Beckett replaces Jack Straw, who replaces Geoff Hoon as Leader of the House of Commons. See at a glance: Tony Blair's new Cabinet - Britain - Times Online May 5, 2006.