Beckett is UK's most powerful.

FOREIGN Secretary Margaret Beckett has been named Britain's most powerful woman by business magazine Forbes.

Forbes also named her the 29th most powerful woman in the world in its third annual list. She is closely followed by Pearson chief executive Marjorie Scardino at number 31.

Cherie Blair, number 62 last year, has dropped out.

Germany's first female Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has been ranked the most powerful woman in the world. She did not appear last year.

Merkel unseated US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who held the title for two years in a row but dropped to number two this year.

Yi Wu, China's Vice Premier, and known as the country's Iron Lady, is in third place.

Other Britons to make the list are the Queen at number 46 and London Stock Exchange chief executive Clara Furse at number 50.

The magazine looked at public visibility (measured by press exposure), and economic impact.

Forbes said Mrs Beckett's ranking followed her appointment as Foreign Secretary.

Other notable inclusions are Melinda Gates, wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, at 16, and Hillary Rodham Clinton, who rose from 26 to 18 this year as her political campaign gathers momentum.

Forbes said 30 women were in government, but seven of the top 10 were in business.