Ainsworth's rank rankles armed forces

London: Prime Minister Gordon Brown is facing growing anger among armed forces chiefs after it was revealed that new Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has the lowest-ever ranking in the Cabinet pecking order for a holder of the post.

Ainsworth is ranked just 21st out of the 23 members of the Cabinet - which senior officials fear is a sign that budgets will be slashed and flagship projects such as renewing the Trident nuclear deterrent cancelled.

A list of Cabinet ministers released by Downing Street reveals that only inexperienced Transport Secretary Lord Adonis and new boy Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw rank beneath Ainsworth.

Historically, defence secretaries - such as Michael Heseltine, who served under Margaret Thatcher, and John Reid in Tony Blair's regime - are normally among the most prominent figures in government.

When Brown assembled his first Cabinet in June 2007, the then Defence Secretary Des Browne was ranked sixth in the hierarchy - although the Forces were furious that Browne doubled up as Scottish Secretary.