Prime Minister Gordon Brown was making a raft of changes to Britain’s government Friday, bringing back some of the Labour Party’s stalwarts in a comprehensive shake-up meant to sharpen focus on the economy.

Britain’s BBC and Sky News reported that Brown was appointing new Cabinet ministers handling briefs including business, defense and transport. Among the more surprising moves was the recall of European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson from his post in Brussels to replace business secretary John Hutton.

Brown’s office declined to discuss whether the leader had finalized the changes until a formal announcement was made. A Brown spokeswoman, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with policy, said the leader was attending a memorial service Friday for a slain policeman in Luton, north of London.

Mandelson and Brown have had a testy history since Mandelson backed Tony Blair for the Labour Party leadership in 1994. Blair won the contest after Brown stepped aside, and he rewarded Mandelson for his support with key Cabinet jobs, though he was forced to twice quit following scandals.

The BBC said Hutton would become defense secretary, replacing Des Browne _ who has held the Cabinet portfolios for both the armed forces and Scotland.

Both Sky News and the BBC reported that Brown’s chief whip Geoff Hoon _ a former defense secretary _ would take over the Transport Ministry.

The BBC said Vodafone chairman John Bond would lead a new economic panel formed to help Brown through the current economic turmoil.

Brown had been expected to reshuffle his team before Britain’s Parliament returns to business next week following a summer break.

Legislator Ruth Kelly said last week that she told Brown in May she wanted to quit her transport brief to spend more time with her young family.

Junior Trade Minister Digby Jones, an ex-head of the Confederation of British Industry and one of several ministers Brown appointed from outside his party, also had said he wanted to step down.