Prior to Saturday most of the Parliamentary Labour party were formulating Shadow Cabinet predictions around a David win.  Hitherto confident David supporters are now frantic about their futures. At this point zealous Labour spinners and Red Ed defenders will be itching to point out that the Shadow Cabinet is elected independently of the leadership however it seems that is not strictly true. One veteran Labour MP recently describe the process to Guido:

“Anyone who’s remotely ambitious and fancies themselves either a decent shadow cabinet portfolio or junior shadow ministerial role is paid a visit by one of the whips – whereby they hand over their ballot and the whip fills it out for them.”

No wonder ruthless Red Ed was so keen to get his Chief Whip in place immediately.