Labour Unveils Shadow Cabinet To Take On Tories

Tony Blair's Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, is to reprise his role, it has been announced, as Labour unveils its shadow cabinet.

It means the Labour grandee will go head to head with Michael Gove as he sets about dismantling New Labour's Human Rights' Act and will be in post for the publication of the Chilcot report into the decision to go to war in Iraq.

Lord Falconer, who was Lord Chancellor from 2003-2007, will take on the role of shadow lord chancellor and shadow secretary of state for justice.

He replaces Sadiq Khan, who resigned from the shadow Cabinet sparking speculation he will launch a bid to become Mayor of London in the election in May next year.

Mr Khan, a close ally of Ed Miliband, wrote in his letter: "After a period of reflection I have decided that I should step down from serving in the shadow cabinet."

Last week's election left the party with a number of posts to fill, including shadow chancellor after the shock defeat of Ed Balls in Morley and Outwood.

He has been replaced by Chris Leslie, who has been promoted from his role as shadow chief secretary to the treasury.

Hilary Benn has been made shadow foreign secretary after the departure of Douglas Alexander, one of the 39 Labour MPs who lost their seats to SNP candidates.

Emma Reynolds, Mr Miliband's shadow housing minister, replaces Mr Benn as shadow communities secretary.

The announcement came as Mr Cameron finalised his line-up, which included a Cabinet role for Boris Johnson.

Ahead of unveiling the Labour shadow cabinet, acting leader Harriet Harman told Sky News the party could not afford to let the Tories think they were getting a "free ride" while Labour rebuilds itself.

David Cameron, meanwhile, has said it will be "lovely to watch" the Labour leadership contest.

Yvette Cooper, Andy Burnham, Chuka Umunna and Tristram Hunt, all potential leadership contenders, remain in their posts of shadow home secretary, shadow health secretary, shadow business secretary and shadow education secretary respectively.

Ms Harman is replaced in her previous role as shadow culture, media and sport secretary by Chris Bryant, Rachel Reeves remains as shadow work and pensions secretary and Vernon Coaker as shadow defence secretary.

Caroline Flint will continue in her role as shadow energy secretary.

Labour's remaining Scottish MP, Ian Murray, gets the role of shadow Scotland secretary, replacing Margaret Curran, another SNP casualty.

As the shadow cabinet was unveiled Ed Miliband, who stood down as party leader after the election, was pictured arriving for a holiday in Ibiza.

Addressing a private meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Ms Harman paid tribute to the outgoing leader, and outlined three options for electing Mr Miliband's replacement.

The party is considering three approaches: a short campaign with the result decided on 31 July, a longer campaign with the leader chosen one or two weeks before conference, or using the conference as a final hustings with a vote after that.

A spokeswoman told reporters Ms Harman had reminded MPs the party's priority was to hold the Government to account.

She said the acting leader issued a "stern message" to any leadership contenders, telling them to use their media appearances to "prosecute and attack" the Government.

MPs were told a "forensic analysis" of what went wrong has been ordered, and warned there was "frustration" at the amount of commenting that has been going on.