By BBC News Online's Nick Assinder

Stephen Byers is from the classic Blairite school of politics.

He is bright, ambitious and loyal and has earned himself a reputation as a highly effective operator.

He has handled his brief as schools minister with flair and has long been marked out as one of the ministers to watch.

He has had his moments of infamy as well, however.

Earlier this year, he was tripped up during a radio interview when he stumbled over his eight-times-table.

More controversially, before the election, he became a hate figure for the unions after he briefed journalists at the TUC conference that Labour was going to sever its links with the unions.

A 'good gaffe'

Some believed the move was a gaffe which had never been intended for publication.

Others remain convinced that he deliberately planted the story as part of Labour's campaign to win over voters previously opposed to the party's close ties to the unions.

TUC General Secretary John Monks led the demands on Tony Blair to sack Mr Byers, but it was clear the Labour leadership was privately delighted at the effect the story had.

He also came under attack from the unions for abandoning Labour's pledge to impose a training levy on employers.

But the rows did nothing to harm Mr Byers's position at the heart of New Labour and he remains extremely close to the Prime Minister.

He was made schools minister after the election, with the sensitive task of raising standards without alienating teachers.

He has widely been regarded as a success, although he hasn't always managed to keep the teachers on side.