Labour MPs vote to elect Shadow Cabinet

Labour MPs have voted to resume the practice, in opposition, of electing the Shadow Cabinet

by Keith Richmond
Friday, September 17th, 2010

Labour MPs have voted to resume the practice, in opposition, of electing the Shadow Cabinet themselves. The Parliamentary Labour Party rejected a move to let the new party leader choose the 19 members of his or her front bench team – but the leader will be able to decide who gets which portfolio.

MPs also rejected moves to increase the number of women in the Shadow Cabinet to 40 or 50 per cent, instead settling on a “gender profile” of 31.5 per cent, meaning a minimum of six women. And they agreed that the Chief Whip – currently Nick Brown – should be elected to serve a full Parliament.

Voting for the Shadow Cabinet opens at the Labour conference on September 26 and the result will be announced on October 7.

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About The Author

Keith Richmond is deputy editor of Tribune
  • swatantra

    Its a good move. The Party needs to have confidence in its new team and a knowledge that it is working for them and not handpicked yesmen, favourites and timeservers.
    Lets hope we get a sprinkling of younger newer women and bame MPs elected. Half the old Cabinet should follow Straw’s example onto the backbenches. But the actual posts given should be left to the Leader to decide, for example the Millibands should share Home Office and Justice.