LONDON - PRIME Minister Gordon Brown made a raft of changes to the government on Friday, bringing back some of the Labour Party's stalwarts in a comprehensive shake-up meant to sharpen focus on the economy.

Britain's BBC and Sky News reported that Mr Brown was appointing new Cabinet ministers in areas such as business, defense and transport.

Among the more surprising moves was the recall of European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson from his post in Brussels to replace business secretary John Hutton.

A 'Cabinet reshuffle is taking place today,' Mr Brown's office said in a statement posted on a Web site. It said that details of Mr Brown's changes would be confirmed later on Friday.

Mr Mandelson, an ex-Northern Ireland secretary and trade secretary, backed former Prime Minister Tony Blair over Brown when the two men pondered running for the leadership of their Labour Party in 1994.

Mr Blair, with Mr Mandelson's backing, won a contest after Mr Brown stepped aside.

Mr Blair rewarded Mr Mandelson with key Cabinet jobs, though he was forced to quit twice following scandals, including failing to disclose a loan from a multimillionaire colleague.

'Bringing back Mr Mandelson is bringing back Mr. Super Spin,' said Prof Rodney Barker, a professor of government at the London School of Economics. 'He has clear skills. It's about giving the impression there is a message and direction and control.'

Mr Mandelson does not hold a seat in Britain's House of Commons, so he likely will be appointed to the House of Lords by Brown.

Mr Blair's ex-Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett - who won her first government post in 1975 and has worked under four Labour prime ministers - will return with a post to enforce Mr Brown's policies, the BBC said.

Mr John McDonnell, a rank and file Labour Party lawmaker, said he was shocked by Mr Mandelson's return.

'This is an extraordinary step backwards into the worst elements of the Blair era, to reinstate possibly the most divisive figure in Labour's recent history,' Mr McDonnell said.

The BBC reported that Mr Ed Miliband - the younger brother of Foreign Secretary David Miliband - would head up a newly created ministry of energy and climate.

The BBC said Mr Hutton would be switched to become defense secretary, replacing Ms Des Browne - who has held two jobs, including the armed forces and Scotland briefs.

Both Sky News and the BBC reported that Mr Brown's chief whip Geoff Hoon - a former defense secretary - would take over the transport ministry.

Vodafone chairman John Bond will head up a new economic panel formed to help Mr Brown through the current economic turmoil, the BBC said.

Mr Brown had been widely expected to reshuffle his team before Britain's Parliament returns to business following a summer break next week.

Legislator Ruth Kelly said last week she'd told Mr Brown in May she wanted to quit her transport brief to spend more time with her young family.

Junior trade minister Digby Jones, an ex-head of the Confederation of British Industry and one of several ministers Mr Brown appointed from outside his governing Labour Party last Jun, also said he had wanted to step down. -- AP