Barry Sheerman hails ‘Yorkshire Mafia’ as Tyke MPs dominate Labour’s new Shadow Cabinet

Oct 9 2010 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

BARRY Sheerman welcomed the rise of the ‘Yorkshire Mafia’ last night as White Rose MPs swept to top positions in the Shadow Cabinet.

New Labour leader Ed Miliband named several MPs from God’s Own County to key posts yesterday.

Mr Sheerman, Huddersfield MP since 1979, hailed the rise of the north.

“The Yorkshire Mafia have taken over,” he joked.

The Labour backbencher added: “We went through so many years when there was a dearth of talented Yorkshire people ready to be ministers.

“But now the Scargill days are gone and we’ve got such a bright range of talent. It’s quite remarkable.”

Mr Miliband, the MP for Doncaster North, appointed several fellow Yorkshire representatives to top positions yesterday following the Shadow Cabinet elections.

Alan Johnson, of West Hull and Hessle, was given the plum role of shadow chancellor while Yvette Cooper – who represents Pontefract and Castleford – was named foreign affairs spokesman.

Her husband Ed Balls, the MP for Morley and Outwood, is the new shadow home secretary.

Mary Creagh, who represents Wakefield in Parliament, was named as the new shadow secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs.

Doncaster Central’s Rosie Winterton is the party’s chief whip while Caroline Flint, of Don Valley, was yesterday appointed shadow local government minister.

Hilary Benn, who represents Leeds Central, is the new shadow leader of the House of Commons while Wentworth and Dearne MP John Healey was named shadow health minister.

In total, nine of the 27 members of the Shadow Cabinet represent Yorkshire constituencies.

The Labour leader’s choices surprised many people yesterday, including Mr Sheerman.

The Huddersfield MP said: “There are some shocks but I think they were good decisions.

“Alan Johnson was a good choice as shadow chancellor because he’s the most experienced person we have in the Shadow Cabinet. I think he will do the job well.

“Ed Balls is a very bright guy and the shadow home secretary role will be a good testing ground for him.”

Mr Sheerman added he was happy to see some new blood in the Shadow Cabinet.

“It’s about time we had some fresh faces,” he said. “We have a whole group of interesting new people like Mary Creagh.”

Mr Sheerman, who served in the Shadow Cabinet from 1983 to 1994, warned yesterday it was a tough role.

He said: “It’s hard work – it sorts the men from the boys and the women from the girls.