Jack Straw: success or Blair puppet?

But it is only a couple of weeks since supposed discontent about the Blackburn MP's performance prompted No Ten to give him a vote of confidence.

Political correspondent Bill Jacobs looks at whether he is making a success of his job as Foreign Secretary...

JACK Straw had been Foreign Secretary for three months and three days when he became a central figure in one of the biggest crises in modern history.

But, despite the baptism of fire, the official word from the corridors of power is that he is doing a good job. Indeed, responding to some newspaper claims that Mr Straw's failure to make an impression was causing a crisis in the Foreign Office, one senior diplomat remarked: "Compared to when Robin Cook was in charge here, it doesn't even make it on to the crisisometer."

The Blackburn MP's predecessor hit the headlines over the breakup of his marriage, insulting the Queen, offending the Israelis and enraging the Government within months of taking office. If Mr Straw's appointment on June 8 was a surprise to everyone (not least him and Mr Cook), at least he is only accused of being too quiet and anonymous.

The claim is that Mr Straw has allowed foreign policy to be taken over by Tony Blair and 10 Downing Street. Tory Shadow Secretary Michael Ancram led the criticism of Mr Straw's performance as Foreign Secretary. He said: "Jack Straw has, on a number of important fronts, such as Zimbabwe, dithered and prevaricated when firm action was called for. He has allowed the Prime Minister, effectively, to become Foreign Secretary."

Ribble Valley Tory MP and Shadow Welsh Secretary Nigel Evans, said: "Jack seems to have been somewhat overshadowed by the Prime Minister. It appears that while Mr Blair has been going round the world Jack has been left at home to do the dirty work.

"I am increasingly concerned about the reports I am hearing regarding the possibility of joint sovereignty with Spain for Gibraltar. Jack Straw does seem to have been sidelined by Downing Street with Tony Blair strutting the world stage and not exactly covering himself with glory. I think that is wholly wrong."

Mr Straw has recently become the butt of impresionist Rory Bremner's jokes and was ridiculed on a show by the star. But others are less concerned. One senior official in Mr Straw's department said: "Jack has spoken to Colin Powell, his US counterpart as Secretary of State in the Bush administration more than a dozen times since Christmas.

"He spent most of his Christmas and New Year break on the phone to Mr Powell and the Indian, Pakistani and Afghan foreign ministers to prepare the way for the Prime Minister's visit to the region. If the boss wants to take charge on the world stage, the Foreign Secretary does the spadework and keeps quiet. Jack's done his job perfectly."

And Donald Anderson, the Labour chairman of the House of Commons all party foreign affairs committee shares that view. He said: "He has been extremely open with us and the House of Commons. He has got a very good manner in Parliament and is much less aggressive than some of his predecessors.

"But he is not a Foreign Office man, so he just doesn't swallow their line. This has advantages in terms of him having a fresh view which is not the received wisdom of diplomats and disadvantages, such as when he upset Israel by talking about 'Palestine,' a concept they just won't accept.

"However, I don't think he has made any major mistakes. He took over just before the quietest diplomatic period over the summer and then September 11 happened, which meant the Prime Minister had to take a key role.

"Heads of state only see heads of state and it had to be Mr Blair who went to see Syrian President Assad and the Pakistani, Indian and Afghan leaders -- not to mention President George W Bush.

"Mr Straw had to do all the hard work, but the results were there to see. The jury is still out. He has only been in the job for less than eight months and it's far too early to convict him of anything."

Mr Straw said he was in a meeting with Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and Chief of the Defence Staffs Sir Michael Boyce when they saw the attacks on the twin towers.

He said: "It was a coincidence but we were immediately able to discuss the security aspects -- particularly air security. I spoke to the Prime Minister on the phone as he drove back from the Trades Union Congress in Brighton after speaking to them but not making his planned speech.

"That afternoon and evening I attended an emergency meeting of senior ministers to discuss the crisis and spoke to US Secretary of State Colin Powell about the events of the day.

"After that I was in regular touch with the Prime Minister and Home Secretary David Blunkett and the Americans. I attended a string of meetings of ministers in Downing Street. I also spoke frequently to other foreign ministers around the world as we tried to tackle the crisis."

Mr Straw is more than happy in his new role, saying: "It's a good job. I am delighted to do it. I think it was time to move on from being Home Secretary. Obviously since September 11 things have changed. There has been a lot of work for me, some of it not obvious, but the Prime Minister has to take a lead role.

"The thing I like about the job is that it's very long term. I am not a big man for headlines. There are big changes that can be made. My much criticised visit to Iran was very important in terms of Afghanistan. I think that's been shown by the reaction of the leadership in Tehran.

"I took a lot of criticism in the Commons over trying to find a solution over Gibraltar, partly from Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle. But if we don't try to tackle long-term problems nothing will happen."

And he highlights his introduction of Anti Social Behaviour orders when he was Home Secretary as a result of his experiences of neighbour problems in Blackburn. Widely derided when introduced, he said they are now becoming more and more a key element in police and local authority efforts to curb thugs, vandals and petty crooks.

He has no doubt about the worst moment as Foreign Secretary -- watching the suicide hijack planes crash into the Twin Towers in New York.

And he also has no doubt about the worst thing about being Foreign Secretary -- the malaria tablets.n a lot of work for me, some of it not obvious, but the Prime Minister has to take a lead role.

"The thing I like about the job is that it's very long term. I am not a big man for headlines. There are big changes that can be made. My much criticised visit to Iran was very important in terms of Afghanistan. I think that's been shown by the reaction of the leadership in Tehran.

"I took a lot of criticism in the Commons over trying to find a solution over Gibraltar, partly from Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle. But if we don't try to tackle long-term problems nothing will happen."

And he highlights his introduction of Anti Social Behaviour orders when he was Home Secretary as a result of his experiences of neighbour problems in Blackburn. Widely derided when introduced, he said they are now becoming more and more a key element in police and local authority efforts to curb thugs, vandals and petty crooks.

He has no doubt about the worst moment as Foreign Secretary -- watching the suicide hijack planes crash into the Twin Towers in New York.

And he also has no doubt about the worst thing about being Foreign Secretary -- the malaria tablets.