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Fantasy Cabinets: who do we know will be shadow ministers?

Douglas Alexander for shadow foreign?

By James Macintyre Published 21 September 2010 15:05

As part of this week's coverage of the Labour party conference, I'm tipping a few outsider-ish names to win election to the shadow cabinet next week. I'm not including the "usual suspects", but that ushers in the question who it is that will definitely be there.

It is widely believed that "all" of the five leadership contenders will be in, though I am told Diane Abbott will not stand and risk defeat. Given that there are no unelected appointments to the shadow cabinet, that means she is likely to remain on the back-benches criticising fromt he side-lines and pursuing her national media profile. But of course the losing Miliband, Ed Balls -- whether he is or isn't shadow chancellor -- and Andy Burnham can all expect senior roles.

So, too, can Yvette Cooper, described by MPs as "the darling of the PLP [Parliamentary Labour Party]". She, though, may also have forfeited her role as shadow chancellor by backing Balls's position on the deficit. Harriet Harman is the only person other than the leader ensured a shadow cabinet role, thanks to her position as the elected deputy leader. She tells me in an interview for this week's magazine that she will "probably" take on a seperate portfolio as well. There are other certs, such as Jim Murphy.

But of course, the question of who gets which jobs depends on who is leader. Which brings me to my final name to watch: Douglas Alexander, tipped by Tony Blair in his book 'A Journey' as a potential future Labour leader. The articulate former international development secretary is at the heart of what I first termed "Next labour", and close to both Miliband brothers. He first met Ed Miliband -- with whom Alexander traveled to Bangladesh last year -- 20 years ago in David Miliband's kitchen, and having agonised over which to back opted for David and, with Murphy, is running the elder brother's campaign. If David Miliband wins, I would not be surprised if he took on the new leader's former role as shadow foreign secretary. If Ed Miliband wins however, that post would appear to be the only one he could appoint his brother to, as a continuation. That's if David sticks around.

Tags: Douglas Alexander Labour

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11 comments

Wed, 2010-09-22 05:42 — Reginald-Fah-fah

A total reshuffle is need for trust! I think the superb Gloria De Piero MP should be shadow leader!Let all the new Labour MP form the front brench!

Tue, 2010-09-21 15:32 — Clem the Gem

Oh dear, not Jim Murphy. do we need another scots machine political hack?

Tue, 2010-09-21 16:15 — Dave (not verified)

@Clem the Gem aka 'twat-features'

What the hell is your problem? Scots mps have every right to be front benchers. It is the uk parliament after all.

Fri, 2010-09-24 12:26 — krazykol87

This illusion of the importance of New Labourites like Douglas Alexander and Jim Murphy is hilarious. If you read Paul Waugh's blog in February about the shadow cabinet elections, he talked about how difficult it might be for the likes of D.Miliband and Douglas Alexander to be elected by their colleagues, if Labour were to be defeated - I got the feeling then that these New Labourites didn't bother to consult/socialise with their backbenchers on policy or on anything else and the philosophy of 'be nice to people on your way up as you'll meet them on your way down' seems to have been forgotten by these people - this was probably why David Miliband didn't challenge Gordon because he had very little support in the PLP. In the same way, with the expectation that supposed 'big beasts' of the New Labour will miss out on being elected, with so many candidates in the running to be elected, I predict that neither Douglas or Jim will be even get elected. An indication of this is the supposed entrance of Jim Murphy in the running for Chief Whip job instead, which is far less crowded!

Furthermore, I think Labour, hopefully with Ed Miliaband being elected, need to move on from New Labour and so such uber New Labourites are tainted and need to be given the heave-ho!

Tue, 2010-09-21 16:45 — swatantra

The great thing is that you have to be innit to be innit. So, who will put their names forward, and risk the humiliation of rejection? Hope
Hilary Benn who has still got some years left in him; FO for him.
I think we've seen the last of Straw, Johnson, Blunkett, Byrne, Ainsworth and Hain and Blears.
Step forward the next generation.
More interesting, who will be Labours men and women in the Lords?

Fri, 2010-09-24 12:32 — krazykol87

With regards to Diane Abbott, I am not sure whether she'll put her name forward to be a candidate for the Shadow Cabinet but surely the Opposition Frontbench spokesmen/spokeswomen will be chosen by the new leader and if this person is Ed Miliband, my guess is that she'll be a spokeswomen on Home Affairs ie. 2nd in department to the Shadow Home Secretary and once again if Ed Miliband is elected and if Emily Thornberry (a donor and big Ed Mil supporter) is also elected into the Shadow Cabinet, my hunch is that Emily will be given the Shadow Home Secretary role or even Shadow Justice role and Diane Abbott (a friend, I believe) will be her deputy

Fri, 2010-09-24 12:34 — krazykol87

James Purnell is cuddling David Miliband because if God-forbid David Miliband is elected leader then I predict Purnell will be his Chief-of-Staff

Tue, 2010-09-21 19:25 — Sue Davies (not verified)

But why is James Purnell cuddling David Miliband in the photo? Thankfully, he can't be in the frame of the shadow cabinet. I'm still waiting for his call up to advise the Tories (I really can't call this government a coalition).

Tue, 2010-09-21 19:42 — swatantra

Tony was always a bad tipper.

Tue, 2010-09-21 21:19 — James Jacobs (not verified)

Will there be any shocks in the reshuffle though? I have the suspicion that the like of Chuka Umunna, Rachel Reeves and Lisa Nandy might have already established themselves in the labour ranks enough for minor positions in the SC. Also- Caroline Flint for Shadow Health? And what about Sadiq Khan, Ed Miliband's close ally- shouldn't he be getting a big posting (shadow Justice possibly)