2010 Labour Party Shadow Cabinet election

Shadow Cabinet elections typically happened near the beginning of a session, but were delayed until after the leadership election,{{cite web|last=Rose |first=Gareth |url=http://news.scotsman.com/politics/Alistair-Darling-to-quit-as.6300397.jp |title=Alistair Darling to quit as Labour front-bencher |publisher=The Scotsman|date=18 May 2010 |access-date=25 September 2010}} which ended with the announcement of Ed Miliband as winner on 25 September. Nominations were open from 26 to 29 September, and voting occurred from 4 to 7 October.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11238856 |title=Labour MPs to elect shadow cabinet |work=BBC News |date=8 September 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://labour-uncut.co.uk/2010/09/14/shadow-cabinet-bun-fight-begins/ |publisher=Labour Uncut |title=Shadow Cabinet bun fight begins |date=14 September 2010}} The leader may choose to assign Shadow Cabinet portfolios to non-members, who are considered to "attend" Shadow Cabinet.

On 8 September 2010, the PLP voted to continue electing the Shadow Cabinet and made various changes to the rules for such elections:

• Shadow Cabinet elections will be held every two years, rather than every year.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/sep/08/gender-equality-plan-shadow-cabinet |work=Guardian |title=Gender equality plan for shadow cabinet diluted by Labour MPs |date=8 September 2010}}
• The Chief Whip will once again be separately elected, reversing a change made before the 1995 Shadow Cabinet election that allowed the Leader of the Labour Party to hand out the position as with any other Shadow Cabinet portfolio. Now, the Chief Whip will be elected by the PLP for the duration of a Parliament.
• For a PLP member's ballot to be valid, it must contain votes for at least six women and six men, up from four.
• The Shadow Cabinet will no longer be the Parliamentary Committee when the party is in opposition. Instead, the latter will be a backbench group just as when the party is in government.[http://labour-uncut.co.uk/2010/09/09/the-quiet-campaign-for-the-chief-whip/ The Quiet Campaign for Chief Whip][http://labour-uncut.co.uk/2010/10/14/timetable-for-elections-to-the-plp-parliamentary-committee/ Timetable for elections to the PLP Parliamentary Committee]

The following are also members of the Shadow Cabinet by virtue of the office listed:

• Leader of the Labour Party (Ed Miliband)
• Deputy Leader (Harriet Harman)
• Opposition Chief Whip in the Commons (Rosie Winterton)
• Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon)
• Opposition Chief Whip in the Lords (Lord Bassam of Brighton)

Shortly after the 2010 general election, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling announced that he would not be a candidate in the elections, thus ending more than 20 years of frontbench service. In August, both Shadow Justice Secretary Jack Straw and Shadow Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth announced their retirements from the frontbench. On 29 September, the day nominations closed, Shadow Foreign Secretary David Miliband announced he would step down from the Shadow Cabinet, having been defeated for the Labour leadership days earlier by his brother, Ed.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11432762 |title=David Miliband says he won't join brother Ed's team |date=29 September 2010 |access-date=29 September 2010 |work=BBC News}}

Forty-nine Labour MPs stood for election, and the results were as follows:

{{cite web |url=http://waugh.standard.co.uk/2010/10/shad-cab-rankings-exclusive-voting-figures.html |title=Shad Cab rankings – exclusive voting figures |author=Paul Waugh |work=Evening Standard |date=7 October 2010 |access-date=7 October 2010|author-link=Paul Waugh }}

;Notes

:† Multiple candidates tied for position.

At the same time they elect members of the Shadow Cabinet, the Commons PLP will elect the Opposition Chief Whip. The incumbent Chief Whip, Nick Brown, announced on 29 September that he would not be a candidate, writing in a letter to the new leader, Ed Miliband, that though he had intended to stand for election to the post, he was acceding to Miliband's request that he stand down.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/sep/29/labour-chief-whip-nick-brown |title=Labour Chief Whip Nick Brown Agrees to Stand Aside |date=29 September 2010 |access-date=29 September 2010 |work=The Guardian |quote=As you know I intended to stand for election as chief whip. During our meeting earlier today you indicated that you wished me not to do so. The chief whip must have the full confidence of the party leader. I fully respect your wishes and will no longer be standing for the position}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11436851 |title=Ed Miliband asks chief whip Nick Brown to step aside |work=BBC News |date=29 September 2010 |access-date=29 September 2010}} According to the BBC, after the announcement, Jim Fitzpatrick, who had also intended to stand for the post, withdrew his candidacy, and Miliband asked Rosie Winterton to stand, and she did so unopposed.{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jk5jqdBotCoveZ67KKYUSFJy5KHA?docId=N0038561285777766115A |title=49 MPs in race for frontbench post |work=UK Press Association |date=29 September 2010 |access-date=29 September 2010}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

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2010

Labour Party Shadow Cabinet

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