U.K. parties in post-election shake up

LONDON, May 10 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair came under fire Tuesday for appointing an unelected policy adviser as a minister in his post-election reshuffle.

Andrew Adonis, reportedly the driving force behind the controversial policy of top-up fees for university students, has been appointed to the House of Lords -- Parliament's upper chamber -- and given a ministerial position in the education department.

Liberal Democrats Education spokesman Phil Willis called it "the most appalling appointment" of an "unelected crony."

He told BBC Radio Adonis had "consistently undermined ministers and successive secretaries of state."

Meanwhile leading Tory financial backer Lord Stanley Kalms urged Party Leader Michael Howard to quit immediately rather than become a "lame duck" leader.

Liberal Democrat Leader Charles Kennedy has announced a wholesale policy review that could include the scrapping of plans for a local income tax and a 50 percent top rate of tax. Some Lib Dem lawmakers have said such policies enabled the Conservatives to brand them a "high tax" party during the election campaign.