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Ed Miliband seeks to change shadow cabinet selection Ed Miliband seeks to change shadow cabinet selection
(about 9 hours later)
Ed Miliband is seeking to change his party's rules so that he can choose who he wants to sit in the shadow cabinet.Ed Miliband is seeking to change his party's rules so that he can choose who he wants to sit in the shadow cabinet.
The Labour leader has decided his party's MPs should lose the right they currently have to elect the party's top team every two years.The Labour leader has decided his party's MPs should lose the right they currently have to elect the party's top team every two years.
Aides said that, in the past, shadow cabinet elections had distracted Labour from holding the government to account and preparing the party for power.Aides said that, in the past, shadow cabinet elections had distracted Labour from holding the government to account and preparing the party for power.
The change would have to be approved by Labour's party conference this autumn.The change would have to be approved by Labour's party conference this autumn.
Labour MPs will have the chance to debate and vote on the rule change before it is considered by the party's ruling national executive committee next month and then put to the party conference in Liverpool.Labour MPs will have the chance to debate and vote on the rule change before it is considered by the party's ruling national executive committee next month and then put to the party conference in Liverpool.
Patronage power The BBC's deputy political editor James Landale said that were it to be approved, it would mark a substantial increase in Mr Miliband's power of patronage over his party.
The BBC's Deputy Political Editor James Landale said that were it to be approved, it would mark a substantial increase in Mr Miliband's power of patronage over his party. It may not quite be a clause four moment - but for Ed Miliband the planned change to the shadow cabinet rules is a key moment.
The aim is to bolster Mr Miliband's leadership but it carries with it huge risks that could have precisely the opposite result.
The most obvious danger is that the parliamentary party or the Labour conference simply refuse to endorse the changes. Such an outcome would be a devastating and humiliating public blow to Mr Miliband and his authority.
The second risk is that Mr Miliband fails to use the moment to shake up his front bench team and weed out his critics.
To many that would look like a missed opportunity, which would risk antagonising his party without bolstering his leadership.
Last October, Labour held its first shadow cabinet elections since 1996 - with the shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper topping the poll.Last October, Labour held its first shadow cabinet elections since 1996 - with the shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper topping the poll.
Mr Miliband then allocated jobs to the 19 MPs who got the most votes.Mr Miliband then allocated jobs to the 19 MPs who got the most votes.
However, a number of leading figures in the party - most notably former foreign secretary David Miliband - chose not to put themselves forward for election and were therefore ineligible for leading positions.However, a number of leading figures in the party - most notably former foreign secretary David Miliband - chose not to put themselves forward for election and were therefore ineligible for leading positions.
Shortly before Ed Miliband became leader, the Parliamentary Labour Party rejected proposals to change the shadow cabinet process which would have enabled the leader to choose half or a third of their team.Shortly before Ed Miliband became leader, the Parliamentary Labour Party rejected proposals to change the shadow cabinet process which would have enabled the leader to choose half or a third of their team.
Frontbench elections have been held while Labour are in opposition for more than 50 years.Frontbench elections have been held while Labour are in opposition for more than 50 years.
Nearly all of the MPs elected in 1996 went on to hold Cabinet positions in Tony Blair's government a year later.Nearly all of the MPs elected in 1996 went on to hold Cabinet positions in Tony Blair's government a year later.