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From The Times today ....
Ed Miliband returns to front bench as Keir Starmer purges Corbynites
Ed Miliband has made a return to frontline politics as part of Sir Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet after a purge of Jeremy Corbyn’s closest allies.
Mr Miliband was appointed shadow secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy. The former Labour leader, who quit following his election defeat in 2015, said he looked forward to serving “alongside such a talented team”. He served as energy and climate secretary under Gordon Brown in 2008-10 and as Cabinet Office minister in the Blair government.
He is one of several Labour politicians whose careers have been resurrected as part of Sir Keir’s reshuffle yesterday, after they spent Mr Corbyn’s leadership on the back benches.
Keir Starmer's future leadership analysed
Lord Falconer of Thoroton, who was lord chancellor under Mr Blair, was appointed shadow attorney-general. David Lammy, who was universities minister under Mr Brown, will shadow the justice secretary.
Ten of Mr Corbyn’s closest allies were sacked, including Ian Lavery as party chairman, and Richard Burgon and Dawn Butler, who both stood for the deputy leadership.
One of the few survivors was Rebecca Long Bailey, Mr Corbyn’s preferred leadership candidate. She said that she was delighted to be made shadow education secretary.
Other Corbyn allies who were reappointed were Cat Smith, who stays as shadow minister for young people, and Andy McDonald, who takes over the employment rights brief.
Sir Keir said his team would be “relentlessly focused” on rebuilding to win the next election and the appointments illustrated “the breadth, depth and talents of the Labour Party”.
Sir Keir handed jobs to some of Mr Corbyn’s staunchest critics, including Ian Murray, Labour’s only MP in Scotland who was made shadow Scottish secretary. Lisa Nandy was made shadow foreign secretary but Jess Phillips was not given a role. They both stood for the leadership along with Emily Thornberry, who takes the international trade job. Angela Rayner, the new deputy leader, was appointed chairwoman of the party. Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, was kept in post after earning praise for Labour’s response to the pandemic.
The shadow cabinet is made up of 17 women and 15 men. Seven are from ethnic minorities. Some of the most senior posts were reserved for new faces. Anneliese Dodds, the MP for Oxford East, is the new shadow chancellor and Nick Thomas-Symonds, MP for Torfaen, is the shadow home secretary.
Mr Miliband said that he would focus on reshaping the economy and “addressing the insecurity many millions of workers face”. Lord Falconer said he was “delighted” to be shadow attorney-general. “Time to do everything to help [the] country defeat Covid-19 and rebuild.” Mr Lammy said his appointment was a “great honour”.
Analysis
Sir Keir Starmer’s new shadow cabinet offers something for everyone. Blairites, for one, will be pleased with the return of Lord Falconer, the veteran minister, and appointment of centrists such as Ian Murray and Rachel Reeves.
Corbynites, meanwhile, can take comfort in the roles for Rebecca Long Bailey and Andy McDonald and the decision to keep the right out of Sir Keir’s inner circle. For the centre-left, the revival of Ed Miliband’s career is no small prize. Scratch below the surface, however, and the reshuffle represents a clear break with the old.
Ten of Mr Corbyn’s closest allies have gone. By contrast, Mr Murray and Rosena Allin-Khan, two centrist candidates for the deputy leadership, have frontbench roles.
This is no Blairite coup, however. There was no space for Jess Phillips, one of Mr Corbyn’s staunchest critics. Indeed Sir Keir chose not to appoint Ms Reeves and Yvette Cooper as shadow chancellor and shadow home secretary, instead opting for fresher faces who may help him to build his brand while retaining unity. His choice for shadow chancellor, Anneliese Dodds, was backed by many MPs including John McDonnell. Nick Thomas-Symonds, meanwhile, the new shadow home secretary, has been on the front bench since 2017.
Sir Keir has also won the balance of power on Labour’s ruling national executive committee. Three Corbyn-sceptic candidates who were backed by the Labour right were elected to the NEC. Now he has consolidated his power further by replacing Ms Long Bailey, Jon Trickett and Diane Abbott, the previous frontbench delegates, with his own allies there.
The key appointments
Anneliese Dodds, 42, shadow chancellor
The first woman to hold the post. Does not belong to any faction but is popular with the left. She is unknown to the public and must build a profile
Ed Miliband, 50, shadow business secretary
Resigned as leader after the 2015 election defeat. High profile will help the party cut through with its environmental message
Nick Thomas-Symonds, 39, shadow home secretary
The trained barrister and former shadow justice minister is the youngest MP to take up this role since Tony Blair in 1992
Lisa Nandy, 40, shadow foreign secretary
Impressed many in the party with her run in the leadership contest. She will focus on defending the party in television and radio interviews
Angela Rayner, 40, deputy leader and party chairwoman
While seen as being on the left of the party, she is no Corbynite. She left school at 16, when she became pregnant
David Lammy, 47, shadow justice secretary
Served as a minister in the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown before becoming vocal backbencher on issues such as Windrush
- he may be many things, but credible as a leader he most certainly isn't
