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Alan Johnson resigned as Shadow Chancellor because his wife was having an affair with his former police protection officer, reports the Daily Mail. Paul Rice, who has more recently been protecting current Home Secretary Theresa May, is said to be facing being suspended from duty within 24 hours.
Mr Johnson was today replaced by Ed Balls, who has drawn attention from all sides. The Conservatives are trying to make the case that Mr Balls' closeness with Gordon Brown - and the budget deficit - means he comes into the role with lots of baggage. The Labour leader has insisted that his party will continue on the path set out by Mr Johnson, despite known disagreements on economic policy between the two Eds. "Ed [Balls] brings great expertise to this job," he said, before insisting that Mr Johnson's resignation was for personal reasons only, despite several blunders during his three months in post.
Mr Balls' move has had a knock-on effect in the Shadow Cabinet. Douglas Alexander will take over the role of Shadow Foreign Secretary, and Liam Byrne will become Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary. Tessa Jowell becomes Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office alongside her responsibilities for the Olympics.
In a statement, Mr Johnson said: "I have found it difficult to cope with these personal issues in my private life whilst carrying out an important front bench role."
Chancellor George Osborne said of Mr Johnson's departure: "Alan Johnson served this country at the top of British politics and will be missed from the front line."Tory party chairman Michael Fallon criticised the appointments, saying Ed Miliband was now surrounded by Brownites, and claimed the appointment of Ed Balls cast a shadow on Mr Miliband’s judgement.
20/01/2011 on BBC News
20/01/2011 on Sky News
20/01/2011
20/01/2011 on Sky news
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