Shriti Vadera, the business minister, is regarded by some as "Gordon Brown's representative on Earth". She is also reported to have been dubbed "Shriti the Shriek" for her apparent ability to reduce junior officials to tears and tear a strip off more senior colleagues.
A intriguing report in today's FT claims that "most" of the staff in her private office have quit this year and have had to be replaced. Figures released to the paper under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that 10 people have worked in the six permanent positions in her private office between her appointment as business minister in January and her move in last month's reshuffle.
But the paper reports that not everyone finds Vadera so difficult to work with. Business leaders are said to regard her ability to cause ructions in Whitehall as a sign of her effectiveness.
