ROSSENDALE and Darwen MP Janet Anderson was today promoted to Shadow Minister for Women as Tony Blair extended his reshuffle into the lower ranks of his spokesmen and women.

Mrs Anderson, formerly a Home Office Whip, is delighted to take over from Tessa Jowell. She sees it as a key role.

Her promotion follows the dramatic demotion of outspoken left-winger Clare Short from Transport spokeswoman to the Overseas Development Brief.

Miss Short, responsible for a string of gaffes was finally downgraded despite coming third in the Shadow Cabinet poll after she stormed out of a London TV interview when asked about the underground strike.

Only a series of meetings with Mr Blair and his deputy John Prescott persuaded the "ballistic" Birmingham MP to stay on the top team but Mr Blair felt she could not handle difficult questions as a spokeswoman she would not be kept in a key role in the run-up to the election.

Her job is taken by former Shadow Chief Secretary Andrew Smith, while his goes to Scots rising star Alistair Darling. Another left-winger - Oldham MP Michael Meacher - is sidelined from employment to environmental protection while Harriet Harman is moved from her high profile health post.

Mrs Harman, who scraped on to the Shadow Cabinet despite sending her son to a selective school and angering many MPs, does a straight swap with Social Security spokesman Chris Smith and will have the job of attempting to devise a new pensions policy for Labour.

l+2l-2Mrs Anderson said: "I am quite overwhelmed.

"I am very proud to have this opportunity to make Labour's commitment to women a reality.

"The Tories have done nothing whatsoever to improve the position of women despite having had the first woman prime minister.

"I will put women's issues at the mainstream of Labour policy and will scrutinise every policy for its effect on women.

"I see this as a major role as well as an opportunity to increase Labours appeal to women voters."

Mr Straw, who took on Mrs Anderson as his secretary and assistant when he succeeded Barbara Castle as MP for Blackburn, said: "I am delighted. Its a great compliment to her and thoroughly deserved. Its very good news."

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