Election aftermath: 'Free time minister' plans Golden Jubilee party

By Sarah Womack

TESSA JOWELL, the Culture Secretary, said yesterday she wanted the Golden Jubilee next year to mark the zenith of the Queen's reign.

Mrs Jowell, who replaced Chris Smith in the Cabinet reshuffle, said the occasion was an "enormously important national celebration" that should be marked, like the Silver Jubilee in 1977, with street parties. "The character of the celebration will be very much set by the Queen," she said.

"I think she will want to make this a national celebration, she will want to make her presence felt in every part of the UK.

"I remember the Silver Jubilee. It was about street parties, local celebration, communities coming together - and I think that's the spirit we will want to see recaptured," she told GMTV's Sunday programme.

Referring to her department as the "Ministry of Free Time" - as it is called in France - Mrs Jowell added that she wanted to improve the quality of people's lives and leisure time. She said the female members of the Cabinet would work together to ensure that there was more balance between working life and leisure time.

Mrs Jowell said: "The fact that Patricia [Hewitt, the new Trade Secretary] and Estelle [Morris, the new Education Secretary] are good friends of mine will make that even more strengthened."