It is Ed Balls in and Alan Johnson out as shadow chancellor just over three months after he was appointed. Balls might have come nowhere in his bid to become Labour leader, but he has got the other job he always wanted — even if it is in opposition.
No surprise maybe. As Ed Miliband has struggled to make his mark Labour has also struggled to get its voice across effectively on the economy and the coalition’s cuts.
That said the BBC reports Johnson is resigning from Miliband’s frontbench citing “personal” reasons. Johnson said he had “found it difficult” to cope with issues in his private life while shadow chancellor although no details were given. There is online talk relating to a sunday newspaper story.
Was there pressure from Miliband for Johnson to go? Apparently most seem to agree not. Miliband said he had accepted the resignation “with great regret” and added that Johnson “showed real leadership on issues that mattered to families across our country, warning of the dangers posed by the government’s gamble on growth and jobs, promoting educational opportunity and delivering neighbourhood policing”.
But despite his regrets Miliband knows he and Labour have to do better and a more robust economic voice in the commons does not hurt. I’m a fan of Johnson and welcomed his appointment at the time, but I don’t think he is the man that Labour needs right now.
Balls is promoted from shadow home secretary where he is succeeded by his wife, Yvette Cooper. It is a smart move by Miliband. Balls is the logical choice.
In a statement, Johnson said: “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 personal issues in my private life whilst carrying out an important frontbench role. I am grateful to Ed Miliband for giving me the opportunity to serve as shadow chancellor of the exchequer. He is proving to be a formidable leader of the Labour Party and has shown me nothing but support and kindness.
“My time in Parliament will now be dedicated to serving my constituents and supporting the Labour Party. I will make no further comment about this matter.”
Miliband said Balls is “an outstanding economist and is hugely qualified to take our economic message to the country”.
