2010 Labour Party Shadow Cabinet election

Shadow Cabinet elections typically happened near the beginning of a session, but were delayed until after the leadership election, which ended with the announcement of Ed Miliband as winner on 25 September. Nominations were open from 26 to 29 September, and voting occurred from 4 to 7 October. The leader may choose to assign Shadow Cabinet portfolios to non-members, who are considered to "attend" Shadow Cabinet. ==Rule changes==

On 8 September 2010, the PLP voted to continue electing the Shadow Cabinet and made various changes to the rules for such elections: • Shadow Cabinet elections will be held every two years, rather than every year. • The Chief Whip will once again be separately elected, reversing a change made before the 1995 Shadow Cabinet election that allowed the Leader of the Labour Party to hand out the position as with any other Shadow Cabinet portfolio. Now, the Chief Whip will be elected by the PLP for the duration of a Parliament. ==Ex officio members==

The following are also members of the Shadow Cabinet by virtue of the office listed: • Leader of the Labour Party (Ed Miliband) • Deputy Leader (Harriet Harman) • Opposition Chief Whip in the Commons (Rosie Winterton) • Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) • Opposition Chief Whip in the Lords (Lord Bassam of Brighton) ==Candidates==

Shortly after the 2010 general election, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling announced that he would not be a candidate in the elections, thus ending more than 20 years of frontbench service. Forty-nine Labour MPs stood for election, and the results were as follows: ;Notes :† Multiple candidates tied for position. ==Chief Whip election==

At the same time they elect members of the Shadow Cabinet, the Commons PLP will elect the Opposition Chief Whip. According to the BBC, after the announcement, Jim Fitzpatrick, who had also intended to stand for the post, withdrew his candidacy, and Miliband asked Rosie Winterton to stand, ==References==