The one good thing Ed has got out of this conference is an end to the Shadow Cabinet elections. He can now clear out the rot and he has more than his fair share of underwhelming baggage. Hilary Benn, Meg Hillier, the Eagles, Caroline Flint, Ann McKechin and Ivan Lewis are all names being bandied around for the chop…
On Monday’s Newsnight Prezza accused many of the Shadow Cabinet of not pulling their weight in the planning row, explicitly suggesting that a reshuffle is required after it was left to the National Trust and charities to fight the government. This could only be a direct attack on the shadow local government minister Caroline Flint. During the riots she was nowhere to be seen and the Tories smell blood here. The problem for Ed is the majority of the under-performers around him are wimmin and yet the Shadow Cabinet must be at least 31% female. This could save Flint, but is also good news for those ladies looking to work their way up the ladder – Rachel Reeves (Oxon. PPE) is tipped for promotion, though she better keep quiet about her years in the banking sector. Labour insiders are also tipping Emma Reynolds (Oxon, PPE) and honorary sister Chuka…