Jack Straw to quit front bench
I am told on very reliable authority that the Shadow Justice Secretary Jack Straw wll not stand when Labour's new Shadow Cabinet is elected this autumn, once the party has elected a new leader.
Straw is known as one of the great survivors at Westminster, having enjoyed one of the longest front-bench stints in post-war British politics. He is currently the longest continuously serving member of either front bench in the Commons. He was recruited to Michael Foot's team of Opposition spokesmen back in 1980, thirty years ago, only a year after he was first elected an MP.
He joined the Shadow Cabinet in 1987, and has remained in either the Shadow Cabinet or Cabinet ever since. Straw ran the leadership campaigns of both Tony Blair in 1994 and Gordon Brown in 2007.
He has served under seven Labour leaders and acting leaders - Foot, Kinnock, Smith, Beckett, Blair, Brown and Harman. He was at times mooted as a future Labour leader himself, perhaps in a caretaker role.
Also stepping down this autumn will be the Shadow Chancellor Alistair Darling, the only other current member of Labour's Shadow Cabinet to sit in Cabinet throughout the whole of the Blair-Brown years.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 26th Jul 2010, TerryFBH wrote:Cricky - when did you start blogging - let us know will ya - and keep the tories in your gunsights will ya - oh actually the libdems as well - lib dems are a pathetic party - really the tory party but without the guts to get in the rough and tough - and they are in it they have been shown for what they are - Hypocrits!!!!
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Comment number 2.
At 26th Jul 2010, TerryFBH wrote:Cricky - you didnt have to remind me 1980 was thirty yr ago - I now feel depressed as I feel old and secondly I can add and subtract
p.s. How come you get so few posts!!??? Start doing footy blogs - particularly about the mighty Middlesbrough Football Club and you will develop a following - ask Robbo Robson :)
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Comment number 3.
At 26th Jul 2010, cariaddraig wrote:Cor, Cricky, wish I was as clever as you
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Comment number 4.
At 26th Jul 2010, keithunder wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 5.
At 27th Jul 2010, TerryFBH wrote:Micky Cricky - dont blanme me for the sarcasm above - I respek u sir like
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Comment number 6.
At 27th Jul 2010, Isatou wrote:Gosh, how we shall miss these wonderful politicians. Expect Brown to resign just before the Labour Party conference and accept a post as President of Uganda.
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Comment number 7.
At 27th Jul 2010, stevie wrote:Straw to go? Yippee, after his performance on PMQ's he should stand down, it was an abysmal performance and the Lords beckons...another stalwart 'socialst' along with Prescot that renaged on every socialst principle they never held.....
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Comment number 8.
At 28th Jul 2010, Isatou wrote:Stevie,
Quite agree, Straw was pathetic at PMQs, but , as you say he will get his reward as another socialist with his snout in the trough.
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Comment number 9.
At 28th Jul 2010, CraigMorecambe wrote:Like you Michael, I mourn the passing of Maximum Jack Straw. The way he stonewalled over reform of parliamentary expenses and took away our undeserved civil liberties makes me proud I voted Labour.
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Comment number 10.
At 3rd Oct 2010, Gaz wrote:All this user's posts have been removed.Why?
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