With the Labour Conference drawing nearer, Labour will soon have it's new leader but also the Parliamentary Labour Party will choose which MPs the New Leader will get to form their Shadow Cabinet.
Obviously with a Leadership contest on, this could mean that whoever wins will have to form a Cabinet including all 4 of their defeated Rivals. But would these Leadership contenders be an asset or a hindrance to the Leader of the Opposition.
Andy Burnham - When it comes to the Former Health Secretary let's be honest, he hasn't a hope of becoming Leader and I think he knows it, He will hope to use his participation in the Leadership contest to ensure his place in the Shadow Cabinet, though he may find himself with a low profile portfolio. Asset to the New leader as the Leadership contest has raised his profile making him more recognisable to the Public.
Ed Miliband - The Former Energy Secretary, though one of the more likely winners of the Leadership contest he is almost guaranteed a place in the shadow cabinet with his popularity among Labour supporters. For anyone but David Miliband, Ed will probably be cast a very long shadow over the leader with his High Profile, If David wins the Leadership however expect to see Ed with a High Profile Portfolio, possibly even the foreign brief.
Diane Abbott - Unlikely to win the leadership but may place well due to the voting system in place, if she can parley her popularity into a Shadow Cabinet seat it would be a create win for the Labour Left. Her Career and leadership bid are based around her being outside the established Labour, being part of the Shadow Cabinet she could be a problem for any Leader due to her more maverick nature. Likely to be given the Equality brief depending on if Yvette Cooper is still in the Shadow Cabinet if Ed Balls wins, whether her would move his wife. On the plus side she has a very high profile with the public thanks to her numerous television appearances.
Ed Balls - Ed Balls looks likely to become the next economics powerhouse of the Labour Party, it has already been suggested that he a David Miliband have an agreement which would install Mr Balls in the Shadow Chancellorship though he would also be useful in education where he already crippled Education Gove in the first weeks of the Coalition government over the School's list with battering attacks. Likely to be an Asset to any Leader in regards to his combative ability which he has maintained even while running a leadership Campaign. Though he will is likely yo be a stubborn force within the Shadow Cabinet much like Brown was for Blair in government.
David Miliband - If neither Miliband win expect David to considered a serious threat to whosoever occupies the Leadership, He was the one pushed to topple Brown and any leader will face huge difficulties in trying to give David a portfolio which is not Frontline. David would most likely wish to hold onto his foreign brief where he already has experience and a good reputation on the International Stage. Though a potential threat his High Profile is an asset to the opposition and the threat of him may act as encouragement for the New Leader to work harder.
The Shadow Cabinet will be without Jack Straw and Alistair Campbell who have both decided to withdraw to the back Benches, and the Labour Party have guaranteed that at least six women will be in the shadow Cabinet. Harriet Harman will remain as Deputy leader obviously, but will Ed Balls' wife Yvette Cooper make the cut?
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