Does this account for Hoon's smug grin on election night?

Geoff Hoon was the first senior Labour Party figure on election night this year to admit there was going to be a reshuffle the morning after. He did this with something of a smug grin which suggested that he was going to be one of the winners. In fact he ended up as the relatively junior Europe Minister having been denied a place on the Cabinet in that same role by Margaret Beckett.

This commentary by Peter Riddell in the Times might explain things. It seems that Mr Hoon was expecting to be made Chief Whip, but was denied that role by Gordon Brown. I can see why Gordon didn't want him, Geoff Hoon has always been a poodle for the Prime Minster. Remember, this is the man who put loyalty to Mr Blair above his responsibilty to the Armed Forces in the run up to the Iraq War.