Christian Aid today warmly welcomed a number of new Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s ministerial appointments, saying that the changes are a good sign of his continuing commitment to justice for the world’s poor.

As the World Bank reels from the Wolfowitz scandal and Tony Blair steps into the shadow of Prime Minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown, rumours abound that he is on the list to head up the international loans institution.

Gordon Brown is focussing his bid to become PM on a restoration of faith in people, politics, integrity and the values of justice. He once again mentioned his Church of Scotland upbringing as a character forming inheritance.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has praised retiring Prime Minister Tony Blair for recognising religion is public life and aiding peace in Northern Ireland. But his criticism of the Iraq war policy will be seen as very mild.

Tony Blair announced today that he will stand down as British prime minister on 27 June 2007. He is setting up a foundation whose work will include reconciliation between Christians, Jews and Muslims. The idea is meeting a mixed response.

An alliance of sixteen faith community leaders and the chief executive of the British Humanist Association have sent a letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair, urging the government to take further decisive action on the “affront and injustice of international debt”.