Shadow cabinet 'league table' published

Douglas Alexander, John Healey and Ed Balls are the "leading campaigners" in the shadow cabinet, according to new research.

The Labout Uncut website has published an analysis of 21 members of Ed Miliband's top team, awarding them points for activity inside and outside parliament.

Points were awarded for Commons questions, points of order and speeches, alongside media coverage.

Bottom of the table are shadow Northern Ireland secretary Shaun Woodward and shadow Wales secretary Peter Hain, who were not elected by the party's MPs but were appointed to the shadow cabinet by Miliband.

The analysis also includes Baroness Scotland, the shadow attorney general, who was also appointed by Miliband, but not shadow Lords leader Baroness Royall or Labour deputy leader and shadow international development secretary Harriet Harman.

"While the ranking partially reflects the prominence of the department, even in departments that are not in the thick of the legislative action, quick parliamentary footwork has made a difference," said Atul Hatwal, who created the 'work rate' league table.

"As shadow foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper was first off the mark reacting to events in Tunisia, scoring a hit with an 'urgent question' and then following up with a press statement."

Labour Uncut plans to update and publish the table each month, "tracking the efforts of the shadow cabinet in holding the government to account".

Have your say...

Please enter your comments below.

Name

Your e-mail address

Listen to audio version

Please type in the letters or numbers shown above (case sensitive)