London - After less than four months in the job, Alan Johnson has resigned from his post as UK's Shadow Chancellor in Ed Miliband's Labour opposition front bench.
His appointment as Shadow Chancellor a few short months ago was questioned by many people. Alan Johnson was a postman and trade union leader in his time and his time as Shadow Chancellor was blighted with errors which led to Prime Minister David Cameron claiming that "We have ended up with a shadow Chancellor who cannot count..."
Alan Johnson resigned from the Shadow front line this evening citing in a letter to the Labour leader Ed Miliband personal reasons within his family. His statement read:
I have decided to resign from the shadow cabinet for personal reasons to do with my family.
I have found it difficult to cope with these personal issues in my private life whilst carrying out an important frontbench role.
I am grateful to Ed Miliband for giving me the opportunity to serve as shadow chancellor of the exchequer. He is proving to be a formidable leader of the Labour Party and has shown me nothing but support and kindness.
My time in Parliament will now be dedicated to serving my constituents and supporting the Labour Party. I will make no further comment about this matter.
The announcement from Mr Johnson literally came out of the blue and Nick Robinson of BBC News said the story was not something being gossiped about in Westminster although rumours have begun about Alan Johnson's marriage. Nick Robinson said, "This is a deeply uncomfortable personal story which I fear Alan Johnson may see spread out in newspapers and will have to tackle in public as well as in private."The resignation of the Shadow Chancellor has forced Labour leader Ed Miliband into a reshuffle of his front bench and in doing so he brings in Ed Balls to the vacated position.
Replacing his position of Shadow Home Secretary is his wife, Yvette Cooper and replacing her position of Shadow Foreign Secretary is Douglas Alexander. Labour's Shadow Works and Pension secretary will be Liam Byrne.
The appointment of Ed Balls as Shadow Chancellor has been regarded by Conservative politicians as something of a surprise with deputy Chairman of the Conservative party, Michael Fallon saying, "It beggars belief that Ed Balls has been appointed as shadow chancellor of the Exchequer.
"The man who is responsible for Britain's economic mess has returned.
"The Labour Party has learnt nothing and is now led entirely by Gordon Brown's old team."
Sky News has claimed that a former police protection officer of Mr Johnson, has been suspended following allegations of an affair with Mr Johnson's wife.
Originally published on Digital Journal on January 20 2011.
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