Alan Johnson shocked Westminster today by resigning as Shadow Chanellor for "personal reasons to do with my family". Ed Balls is the new Shadow Chancellor.
Alan Johnson shocked Westminster today by resigning as Shadow Chanellor for “personal reasons to do with my family”.
Ed Miliband has immediately shuffled his team, with Ed Balls replacing Johnson, Yvette Cooper replacing Balls as shadow home secretary and Douglas Alexander replacing Cooper as shadow foreign secretary.
Liam Byrne becomes shadow work and pensions secretary alongside his responsibilities for the Labour Party policy review, and Tessa Jowell becomes Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office alongside her responsibilities for the Olympics.
In his resignation letter to Miliband, Johnson wrote:
“I have decided to resign from the Shadow Cabinet for personal reasons to do with my family. I have found it difficult to cope with these issues in my private life whilst carrying out an important front bench role…
“You are proving to be a formidable Leader of the Labour Party and will take the party from strength to strength in the years to come.”
With Miliband replying:
“It has always been clear that you never lost sight of the reasons which first brought you into politics. As Shadow Chancellor you spoke clearly to the public, warning of the dangers posed by the gamble the Government is taking with growth and jobs…
“I wish you all the best at this difficult time.”
Below is a full list of the newly reshuffled Shadow Cabinet:
Leader of the Opposition
Rt Hon Ed Miliband MPDeputy Leader of the Labour Party, Shadow Deputy Prime Minister and Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
Rt Hon Harriet Harman MPShadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Rt Hon Ed Balls MPShadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MPShadow Secretary of State for the Home Department and Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MPChief Whip
Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MPShadow Secretary of State for Education and Election Coordinator
Rt Hon Andy Burnham MPShadow Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State for Justice (with responsibility for political and constitutional reform)
Rt Hon Sadiq Khan MPShadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (with responsibility for the policy review)
Rt Hon Liam Byrne MPShadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
Rt Hon John Denham MPShadow Secretary of State for Health
Rt Hon John Healey MPShadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Rt Hon Caroline Flint MPShadow Secretary of State for Defence
Rt Hon Jim Murphy MPShadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Angela Eagle MPShadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
Meg Hillier MPShadow Leader of the House of Commons
Rt Hon Hilary Benn MPShadow Secretary of State for Transport
Maria Eagle MPShadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Mary Creagh MPShadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Rt Hon Shaun Woodward MPShadow Secretary of State for Scotland
Ann McKechin MPShadow Secretary of State for Wales
Rt Hon Peter Hain MPShadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Ivan Lewis MPShadow Leader of the House of Lords
Rt Hon Baroness Royall of BlaisdonShadow Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Olympics
Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MPLords Chief Whip
Rt Hon Lord Bassam of BrightonShadow Attorney-General
Rt Hon Baroness Scotland of Ashtal QC
20 Responses to “Johnson resigns as Shadow Chancellor – Balls takes over”
James Hubbs
"Johnson resigns as Shadow Chancellor – Balls takes over" and related posts http://bit.ly/fp1Xj7
Liz McShane
Anon – when you have a spare 30 mins or so please listen to Ed Ball’s powerful & incisive speech to Bloomberg last August. Here’s the link:
http://www.edballs4labour.org/blog/?p=907
You just might change your opinion…. possibly!
Anon E Mouse
Liz – I’m on my own next couple of weeks at work (business partner had an operation this morning keeping her off work) and I will watch it then.
I’ll take a lot of convincing though as you know woman ;-}
Where have you been anyway? We’ve not had any online disagreements for a while…
Liz McShane
Hi Anon – even if you don’t agree with Ed Ball’s economic viewpoint, I think even you will agree the speech shows that he has a real grasp & indepth knowledge of economics. It’s masterful!
ps.
I have been busy tweeting. Are you on twitter? I know that 140 characters might be a challenge for you!!! It is for me at times!
Liz McShane
Correction: meant to write: Ed Balls’ not Ed Ball’s…