THE last week has shown the fickleness of political fortunes.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw has been on the up -- unexpectedly promoted to Foreign Secretary.

But his East Lancashire friends Janet Anderson and Greg Pope fared less well -- both stunned to be summarily fired from the government by Tony Blair. They had expected at the very least to keep their jobs: Rossendale and Darwen MP Mrs Anderson as Tourism, Broadcasting, Film and Pop Music Minister and Hyndburn's Mr Pope as a government Whip.

When originally put into the government after the 1997 General Election as Whips -- i.e. government business managers and disciplinarians -- both were considered rising stars.

The convention at Westminster is that those who do the leadership's dirty work in that job are being groomed for high office.

Both were popular Whips -- Mrs Anderson, it is understood, with Buckingham Palace for her witty gossipy daily letters to the Queen when she was 'Royal Whip'.

Mr Pope was highly regarded by Ministers and backbenchers alike for his genial manner and ability to persuade rebellious MPs to either back the government or, at least, go home.

Mrs Anderson's downfall might be traced back to her infamous remarks that women would have more sex under Labour.

These were compounded by her marriage break-up. sadly something that happens all too often because of the long hours and obsessive nature of Parliamentary work.

But she had shown herself a sure-footed Ministerial operator playing a big role in the foot and mouth crisis.

Mr Pope, by contrast, had kept his nose clean and been notably effective in a low-key way piloting several awkward pieces of legislation through the Commons. One theory is that Mr Blair took against the Whips Office as almost all those serving or who had served there were culled in the latest reshuffle.

Another is that they suffered from being too close to Mr Straw.

The Prime Minister is adept at reducing the influence of his senior lieutenants by dismissing their allies.

Chancellor Gordon Brown's friends have suffered from this and maybe, after promoting Mr Straw, it was the turn of Jack's pals.

There is some hope for them as two Brown allies sacked in the 1998 reshuffle, Harriet Harman and Nigel Griffiths, were reinstated as ministers this time round.

But perhaps their best chance is to quietly start a campaigning machine to get Mr Straw into pole position to replace Mr Blair should he stand down.

If they succeeded in getting Jack into No 10, that would be the best way of ensuring their own return to office!