Ministers to be moved before September party conference amid concern over a lack of dynamism on the Labour front bench
Ed Miliband will reshuffle his front bench in September before Labour's party conference, amid concerns over a lack of dynamism in the shadow cabinet. The Observer has learned that the Labour leader has pencilled in the first few weeks of next month for what will be his fourth reshuffle in three years.
The change has been partly made necessary by the unexpected resignation of Tom Watson as the party's general election coordinator in the wake of the vote-fixing scandal in Falkirk.
However, Miliband is also keenly aware that a number of his shadow cabinet colleagues have been quiet in their roles. One shadow minister told the Observer: "We need the return of a big beast – an Alan Johnson or Alistair Darling."
Over the weekend the shadow health secretary, Andy Burnham, was the first frontbench spokesman to publicly call for more action from Labour. In an interview with the Guardian, he said: "I think there's definitely a need to shout louder, and speak in a way that captures how people are feeling and thinking. There's definitely a need to put our cards on the table."
The Observer understands there are concerns at the top of the party over the performance of the shadow education secretary, Stephen Twigg, a popular figure but one who has been quiet in his role.
If Miliband moves Twigg, who replaced Burnham in October 2011, the education secretary, Michael Gove, will have faced three counterparts across the Commons dispatch box in as many years.
Rachel Reeves, the shadow chief secretary to the treasury, who has been on maternity leave, is also being tipped for a more prominent role as the opposition prepares for the general election.
In April, Meg Hillier, a Labour MP, complained that Miliband was not doing enough to promote Labour women to prominent positions. Labour women tipped for promotion include Emma Reynolds, the shadow Europe minister, Liz Kendall, a health spokesman, and Stella Creasy, the shadow crime prevention minister.
Lisa Nandy, a shadow education minister, who is from the left of the party, is understood to fear for her job.
Miliband's party has dropped three points in the last two weeks leaving them with a lead of just 7% over the Conservatives, according to a new Opinium/Observer poll.
Labour stands on 36% of the vote compared to the Conservatives 29%. Both Ukip and the Liberal Democrats have enjoyed single point gains, rising to 17% and 9% respectively.
Labour has been criticised for a lack of action over the last month with David Cameron and Nick Clegg dominating the agenda.
The new poll suggests that the prime minister's approval rating has accordingly improved, with 34% approving of him compared to 33% two weeks ago.
It also found that 49% disapprove of Cameron, down from 50%, giving him a net rating of -15%, his best rating since January.
Miliband, meanwhile, has suffered from a decrease in the proportion of people who approve of him - from 22% to 21%. The proportion who disapprove has gone up from 44% to 47%.
The polling will be a concern to the Labour leader who returns from his family holiday in the south of France this weekend.
One senior figure in the party said that there was a widespread anxiety within Labour's upper echelons about Miliband's personal ratings. "We don't seem to be making any concerted effort to change it", the source said. "He needs to make more speeches, for a start because Miliband is the only one who really gets any traction in the media." Reported by guardian.co.uk 4 hours ago.
Ed Miliband will reshuffle his front bench in September before Labour's party conference, amid concerns over a lack of dynamism in the shadow cabinet. The Observer has learned that the Labour leader has pencilled in the first few weeks of next month for what will be his fourth reshuffle in three years.
The change has been partly made necessary by the unexpected resignation of Tom Watson as the party's general election coordinator in the wake of the vote-fixing scandal in Falkirk.
However, Miliband is also keenly aware that a number of his shadow cabinet colleagues have been quiet in their roles. One shadow minister told the Observer: "We need the return of a big beast – an Alan Johnson or Alistair Darling."
Over the weekend the shadow health secretary, Andy Burnham, was the first frontbench spokesman to publicly call for more action from Labour. In an interview with the Guardian, he said: "I think there's definitely a need to shout louder, and speak in a way that captures how people are feeling and thinking. There's definitely a need to put our cards on the table."
The Observer understands there are concerns at the top of the party over the performance of the shadow education secretary, Stephen Twigg, a popular figure but one who has been quiet in his role.
If Miliband moves Twigg, who replaced Burnham in October 2011, the education secretary, Michael Gove, will have faced three counterparts across the Commons dispatch box in as many years.
Rachel Reeves, the shadow chief secretary to the treasury, who has been on maternity leave, is also being tipped for a more prominent role as the opposition prepares for the general election.
In April, Meg Hillier, a Labour MP, complained that Miliband was not doing enough to promote Labour women to prominent positions. Labour women tipped for promotion include Emma Reynolds, the shadow Europe minister, Liz Kendall, a health spokesman, and Stella Creasy, the shadow crime prevention minister.
Lisa Nandy, a shadow education minister, who is from the left of the party, is understood to fear for her job.
Miliband's party has dropped three points in the last two weeks leaving them with a lead of just 7% over the Conservatives, according to a new Opinium/Observer poll.
Labour stands on 36% of the vote compared to the Conservatives 29%. Both Ukip and the Liberal Democrats have enjoyed single point gains, rising to 17% and 9% respectively.
Labour has been criticised for a lack of action over the last month with David Cameron and Nick Clegg dominating the agenda.
The new poll suggests that the prime minister's approval rating has accordingly improved, with 34% approving of him compared to 33% two weeks ago.
It also found that 49% disapprove of Cameron, down from 50%, giving him a net rating of -15%, his best rating since January.
Miliband, meanwhile, has suffered from a decrease in the proportion of people who approve of him - from 22% to 21%. The proportion who disapprove has gone up from 44% to 47%.
The polling will be a concern to the Labour leader who returns from his family holiday in the south of France this weekend.
One senior figure in the party said that there was a widespread anxiety within Labour's upper echelons about Miliband's personal ratings. "We don't seem to be making any concerted effort to change it", the source said. "He needs to make more speeches, for a start because Miliband is the only one who really gets any traction in the media." Reported by guardian.co.uk 4 hours ago.