Alastair Campbell once described reshuffles as the ‘junk food of political journalism’. Unfortunately, those keeping track on developments with the Labour Party Shadow Cabinet reshuffle early this week were left waiting on the meal.
Eventually, a meagre feast of just four Shadow Cabinet appointments was served, though these changes left a bitter aftertaste with Jeremy Corbyn opting to sack two prominent members of the previous Shadow Cabinet. The former Shadow Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Michael Dugher and Pat McFadden, Shadow Minister for Europe, both fell victim to the remodelling of Labour’s top team.
Also of considerable significance, the decision to shift Maria Eagle away from her post as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence to DCMS highlights Corbyn’s desire to have a unified opposition voice on Trident. In Emily Thornberry he will find loyal support for his own views on the issue. However the fall out in the Shadow Defence team has been severe, with the heavily experienced minister Kevan Jones resigning from his junior ministerial post in response to Thornberry’s appointment.
As a sign of things to come in 2016, there are two key learnings from this week. Firstly, the importance of managing the media cycle. In the midst of the reshuffle, as chaos reigned supreme on Jeremy Corbyn’s parliamentary corridor, No.10 were able to sneak out an announcement that Government ministers will be permitted to campaign for either side of the In/Out debate during the EU referendum process. Despite this signalling a U-turn in the Prime Minister’s position, political correspondents were unable to offer their usual degree of scrutiny with their focus split across two significant fronts. In contrast, Labour undermined the launch of their rail fares campaign, with the message drowned out by relentless speculation surrounding events concerning the Shadow Cabinet.
Secondly, the decision to allow Government Ministers to campaign freely on Europe reflects the wider conundrum the British public is now facing; how pure do we want our political parties to be?
Only time will tell, but as 2016 advances and the political landscape unfurls before us, the freedom of association granted to Government Ministers during the EU referendum, as opposed to Corbyn’s shuffling of his deck, could very feasibly be the more significant development.
Division now for Labour could result in unity later, at least amongst the new party faithful. Corbyn might now be better set to press ahead, seeking for his top team to communicate with a more consolidated voice. Looking ahead, the May 2016 elections will offer an answer as to whether Corbyn’s vision is palatable amongst the electorate. Amongst continued speculation, particularly from New Labourites, on the electoral effectiveness of a left of centre approach, following the reshuffle he will perhaps be better able to compete for the support of the electorate according to his own terms and values, barring further disruption.
In contrast, for the Conservatives, the relative current stability afforded by their electoral success could be undermined by the re-opening of old wounds over the issue of the UK’s role in Europe. With the potential for fault lines to be exposed, again, 2016 will likely provide the answer as to whether the electorate is comfortable with the idea of ‘broad churches’.
Irrespective of the political realities of both situations, the two may come to be seen as presenting a marked distinction between a mature acceptance of the divergent views held within Government, and an Opposition leadership failing to implement the ‘new politics’ it promised, in favour of the expediency of a more unilateral approach.
This week has proved for certain that reshuffles capture the attention and the imagination of the political commentariat like little else. The pertinent question now facing both Jeremy Corbyn’s newly formed Shadow Cabinet, and the Prime Minister too in light of the approaching EU referendum, is this: can they achieve the same with the UK electorate?
If reshuffles truly are the ‘junk food of political journalism’, perhaps we ought to question whether this year we want more of the same. The delivery of a more nutritious alternative, of stable Government and a strong, unified Opposition will depend on the ability of both Cameron and Corbyn to rally their respective parties together as issues threaten to prize them apart. Absent of this, 2016 may well prove to be a very unhealthy year on both sides of the chamber.