08/10/2010

Miliband Appoints Shadow Cabinet

Ed Miliband has appointed his new team for the shadow cabinet.

The former Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, has been named as Shadow Chancellor.

Mr Johnson will play a key role as Labour develops its economic strategy.

Ed Balls will become Home Secretary, while his wife Yvette Cooper, has been appointed Shadow Foreign Secretary.

The role of Shadow Education Secretary has been awarded to Andy Burnham, while John Healey, will undertake health.

Harriet Harman will stay Labour's Deputy Leader but will add the additional role of Shadow International Development Secretary to her portfolio.

The new Labour leader said the line-up for the shadow cabinet was "drawn from a broad range of talents".

However a number from previous government didn't make the cut, including former cabinet members Shaun Woodward, Ben Bradshaw and Peter Hain.

Diane Abbott also failed to gain substantial support.

Under Labour rules, MPs must vote every two years to decide who should be in the shadow cabinet when the party is in opposition.

In efforts to promote equality, a minimum quota of six women is imposed.

However that figure was exceeded, with the parliamentary party returning eight votes in total, including Caroline Flint, who makes a comeback as Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, shadowing Eric Pickles.

Introducing his new team Ed Miliband, said: "My team is united in one central mission for the future - to win back the trust of the British people and take Labour back to power.

"Together, this new generation of Labour will work together to reject the pessimism of this coalition government as we set out our vision of what Britain can achieve.

"Our values are those of the British people, and this shadow cabinet will ensure that the hopes and concerns of working families are at the heart of our offer to the country."

(BMcN/GK)


Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

27 September 2010
David Miliband Says Party Now Has A "Great Leader"
In his latest speech to the Labour conference, David Miliband has said the party now has a "great leader" in his younger brother Ed. The shadow foreign secretary, added "I'll be fine" before calling for party unity and receiving a standing ovation.
28 September 2010
Ed Miliband Says Labour "Needs To Change"
In his first big speech as party leader, Ed Miliband has said Labour "needs to change." He said they had to face "painful truths" - including the failure to recognise immigration concerns. Mr Miliband urged "responsibility" from unions and businesses and added the UK's involvement in the Iraq war was wrong.
14 September 2015
Jeremy Corby Elected New Labour Party Leader
Jeremy Corbyn has been elected the new leader of the Labour Party with a majority of almost 60%. Mr Crobyn beat Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall, taking 251,417 votes in the first round of voting. In his first act as party leader, Mr Corbyn has been selecting his shadow cabinet, with Tom Watson as Deputy Leader.
06 December 2005
Cameron elected new party leader
David Cameron has been elected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Mr Cameron will succeed Michael Howard to become the party’s fifth leader in eight years. The Shadow Education Secretary defeated his rival, Shadow Home Secretary David Davis, by 134,446 votes to 64,398, in a postal ballot of party members across the UK.
11 May 2005
Howard to step down before Christmas
Conservative leader Michael Howard has confirmed that he will stand down before Christmas. Speaking to the ‘Daily Telegraph’, Mr Howard said that wanted an “open and honest debate” about the future of the party and said that he hoped the Conservatives would have a new leader by Christmas.