Ed Miliband, Leader of the Labour Party, said:
“I am delighted with Labour’s front bench team. I am particularly pleased that I could bring in a new generation of talent, whilst also using the experience of a broad range of Labour MPs. This is a team from all parts of the party, which will robustly hold the coalition government to account”
Labour’s New Shadow Cabinet:
Leader of the Opposition
Rt. Hon. Ed Miliband MP
Deputy Leader and Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Minister for Women and Equalities
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP
Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department
Rt Hon Ed Balls MP
Chief Whip
Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP
Douglas Alexander (160 votes)
Reponsible for Gordon Brown’s election campaign and David Miliband’s leadership campaign, wee Douglas (as he used to be known when he was GB’s Parliamentary amanuensis in the early nineties) is not looking very lucky at the moment. But he got on the shadow cabinet without running much of a campaign and will expect a better job than he might otherwise have got, in token of the new leader’s magnanimity.
Ed Balls (179 votes)
Won the leadership campaign by a mile, but lost the election by a similar distance. It’s widely considered to be a toss-up between him and his wife, Yvette Cooper, for the shadow chancellorship, which he has made no secret of wanting. With David Miliband all but out of the picture, one could argue that the tone of Labour’s next five years will be set by what Ed M decides to do with Ed B in the next few days. And what Ed B decides to do back.
Hilary Benn (128 votes)
A minister for nine years, including seven in the cabinet, Hilary Benn is more experienced than he seems. It says a lot not just for his longevity, but for the way he colonised his two main briefs, that it’s hard to imagine him shadowing other than DEFRA or DECC.
Andy Burnham (165 votes)
Very well liked and quite well respected before the leadership campaign, Andy Burnham emerged even more popular but probably less highly esteemed. His campaign lacked ideological bite, but the man himself is a straight-down-the-line Blairite right-winger. As such, he will be an important pole in Ed Miliband’s big tent.
Liam Byrne (100 votes)
Hasn’t lived down the “no money left” note yet. But he will. Much younger than he looks (he turned 40 last weekend), he is an over-achiever with a Harvard MBA and fast-tracked ministerial career. Sees himself as a future leader. Took soundings this time over a possible Byrne bid, made the right choice on finding no real market. It’s not quite in his script that the new leader is the same age as him. Or that he had to work extremely hard to scrape onto the shad cab. But he did. Liam does not do failure. Which is why we need him. (more…)
The first obvious evidence of what (at least to me) was one of the more surprising aspects of the election results came at just past 2am on 7 May, when Labour held Gedling. It was the first obvious manifestation of something which the 10pm exit poll had claimed to detect, but which I wanted to see for myself before I believed it: evidence that hard-working Labour incumbents – in this case, Vernon Coaker – could survive against the swing.
The Conservatives would end the election having taken almost a clean sweep of seats from Labour in their top 100 targets. But of the nine they failed to take, eight were held by an incumbent Labour MP. (more…)
Tonight George Osborne has written to Tory MPs to explain the cuts he announced to child benefit. It’s a good job. The ill thought out plans seem to be catching out Tory MPs from the PM down.
A red faced David Cameron, with watery eyes, struggled to explain how the announced reform was “fair”, to Sky’s Adam Boulton, hinting at other tax breaks that could level the playing field. Later he stonewalled Five News when asked what the tax breaks would be, offering a line which should inspire confidence in all parents:
“We’re only going to announce one measure at a time. You have to look at all the measures together”.
Iain Duncan Smith floundered in a similar fashion when questioned, saying: “Like all these things, that will all be smoothed out as and when we reach the transitional point”. Thanks for that Iain. You may as well have stayed quiet.
But the prize for the most confused Tory MP has to go to Margot James. The Stourbridge MP, who was elected in May, must have been delighted when she realised that the conference would be on her patch. What better opportunity to get in the local media than the whole conference jamboree coming to your backyard? (more…)
For those destined to be touched by shadow greatness, this Thursday – when the shadow cabinet ballot closes and results are announced – will be the moment of ascension.
The day of light when glory is made flesh by GOTV and the victorious schmoozers rise bodily to sit at the right hand of Ed.
In the three rogation days which remain before Thursday, the devoted must Get Out the Vote.
They know how to do this. They are campaigners. Politcians. It is what they do. It is what makes them special.
With assiduity and love they have made a database. Their colleagues are on it. Colour-coded according to their level of support.
And their details are on it too. Not just their phone numbers and emails, but their personal information: their partners, children, hobby horses, tragedies – all noted to prompt and enliven that clinchingly warm conversation.
And the tearoom “bump intos” are endless. And the letters and emails are objects of scorn. And the phone calls are so many that they have become fraught.
Perhaps text messages may be the answer. Gentle, subtle, not too intrusive. But showing that you care. That you’re bothered. That you can be arsed. And that you can text.
Below is an early selection of GOTV SMSs. Long-suffering PLP members should feel welcome to send more.
You have probably been rung enough. But please consider giving me one of your votes for the Shadow Cabinet. Any questions call me 07xx xx xxxx Diane Abbott
* * *
Dear xxxxx It was good to see you at Conference. Some week! I sent you a note about the Shadow Cabinet, and I would much appreciate your support. If you want a word then please text me back, email me at xxxxx@parliament.uk or ring me on xxxxx xxxxxx Thanks a lot and best wishes Hilary
* * *
Hi xxxxx. In true campaign style I’m now doing get-out-the-vote for the shadow cabinet elections. I hope I can rely on your support – and please consider this number the Voter Hotline if you’d like to speak! Thanks – Emily T
* * *
xxxxxx I’m standing for shadow cabinet. I hope you will consider giving me one of your votes. We need new faces, who have served their apprenticeship and can cut the mustard in the Commons and country. I can fulfil the need for a Welsh colleague too. I’m texting instead of pestering you with a call, but text if you’d like to talk or support me. Best. Kevin Brennan
* * *
xxxxxx it’s Tessa – I hope you won’t feel pestered if I remind you that I’m standing for the Shadow Cabinet and I would be enormously grateful for your support. Please call if you’d like to talk…
Ahead of tonight’s Dispatches ‘Tabloids, Tories, and Telephone Hacking’ , 8pm Channel 4, Tom Watson MP has written to David Cameron on the new allegations about Andy Coulson’s involvement in, or knowledge of, the practice of phone hacking at the News of the World.
Tom Watson Letter to David Cameron
This week we will finally find out who will make it into the new leaders opposition fighting force. The squad of 49 will be trimmed to 19. The mother of all popularity contests will culminate on Thursday, with 30 wannabe front benchers being sent back to the minors.
It is all too much for some members of the PLP to take. It only took a day to upset Bob Ainsworth. Tom Watson announced a pretty strict rule on twitter: send me unsolicited text messages and it’s game over.
Another member of the PLP, sick of the constant emailing, letter writing and texting sent this to the Uncut mobile:
XXXXX, just reminding you to vote for me in the Shadow Cabinet elections (the ballot opens today). David Lammy
I HAVE NEVER EVEN SPOKEN TO HIM, LET ALONE PROMISED TO VOTE FOR HIM.
* * *
I’m standing for shadow cabinet. Ed needs a strong team and I wld bring energy *and* experience. Pls will u consider supporting me? Thanks, Peter Hain
IMPERSONAL BUT AT LEAST POLITE.
Thursday can’t come soon enough, not only for the 49 who have thrown their hats into the ring, but for the rest of the PLP. The runners and riders are: (more…)
