Posts tagged Yorkshire

Not only does Labour Party’s new leader represent a Yorkshire constituency, but nine of the new shadow cabinet do as well. Doncaster is particularly well represented with all three of its MPs in the shadow cabinet.

What’s most impressive to me is how well Ed Miliband has deployed the team he’s been handed by the PLP election.

Caroline Flint is ideal for communities and local government where some radical thinking is certainly required. It requires someone who isn’t afraid to court unpopularity amongst the more recalcitrant members of the Labour Party who simply want to maintain the status quo.

Alan Johnson will be the ideal foil to George Osbourne. As rich boy George attacks the poor, weak and vulnerable, Alan will be the perfect voice of reason on the side of people like us, while George backs the rich.

Just like his dad, Hilary Benn is a great speaker and is well suited to his new role.

Yvette Cooper well deserves one of the great offices of state and her new role is a great platform for her.

Mary Creagh is the least well-known of the new shadow cabinet and has never even held ministerial office. However, as a backbench MP she has an excellent track record of campaigning including on junk food. That’s why I think her new role is the right one.

I know all bar one, and have worked closely with many, of the new team. The only one of the ten I don’t know is John Healey.

The full list of Labour Party shadow cabinet in Yorkshire and Humber is:

Don Valley: Caroline Flint MP; Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: www.carolineflint.co.uk

Doncaster Central: Rosie Winterton MP; Chief Whip: www.rosiewinterton.co.uk

Doncaster North: Ed Miliband MP; Leader of the Opposition: www.edmiliband.org.uk

Hemsworth: Jon Trickett MP; Shadow Minister of State for the Cabinet Office: www.jontrickett.org.uk
(Jon isn’t a full member, but will attend shadow cabinet meetings)

Kingston-upon-Hull West & Hessle: Alan Johnson MP; Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer: www.alanjohnson.org

Leeds Central: Hilary Benn MP; Shadow Leader of the House of Commons: www.hilarybenn.org

Morley & Outwood: Ed Balls MP; Shadow Secretary of State for Home Affairs: www.edballs.com

Normanton, Pontefract & Castleford: Yvette Cooper MP; Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities: www.yvettecooper.com

Wakefield: Mary Creagh MP; Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: www.marycreagh.co.uk

Wentworth and Dearne: John Healey MP; Shadow Secretary of State for Health: www.johnhealeymp.co.uk