Waste and recycling minister Jane Kennedy has been "sacked" from her post after refusing to pledge her loyalty to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, while former transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick has been appointed to a ministerial role at Defra.

National media reports have suggested that Ms Kennedy, who only took over the role at Defra in October 2008, was asked by Mr Brown to pledge her loyalty to him but, after saying she was unable to do so, was asked to leave.

In terms of recycling ministers over the past 10 years, Ms Kennedy was seen as having a low profile. She even admitted that she did not want any controversy in the position and was glad to see the back of the financial incentives scheme.

Surprise
A surprise appointment to the position last year, she also said that her main interest was in the farming side of the job although Secretary of State Hilary Benn himself dealt with some of the more controversial farming issues such as the possible culling of badgers.

Ms Kennedy was a notable absentee from the list of high-profile speakers set to appear at this weeks Futuresource exhibition and conference, being held at ExCeL in London.

At last year's LARAC conference, the former minister gave a low-key performance, admitting that she knew very little about recycling.

Fitzpatrick
This afternoon it was confirmed that Jim Fitzpatrick would be joining Defra as a minister, though it is not yet clear whether he will assume Ms Kennedy's ministerial responsibility for waste and recycling.

Mr Fitzpatrick, who has been the MP for the east London constituency of Poplar and Canning Town since 1997, joins from the department of transport, where he was a parliamentary under-secretary of state, with responsibilities ranging from shipping to road safety.

He has also held a number of other ministerial roles including minister for London, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the DTI and parliamentary under-secretary of state at the office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

BERR
As well as the ministerial reshuffle, the Prime Minister has also this weekend merged BERR, the department for business, enterprise and regulatory reform, with the department for innovation, universities and skills.

The new department for business, innovation and skills (BIS) has the key role will building "Britain’s capabilities to compete in the global economy", and, as with BERR, will be headed up by Lord Mandelson.