Burnham and Balls win in shadow cabinet election

Andy Burnham and Ed Balls will both return to the shadow cabinet under Ed Miliband.

Labour MPs voted the former health secretary and former children’s secretary back to frontline politics.

Party protocol means Labour MPs vote on who should be in the shadow cabinet when the party is in opposition. However, it is left for the leader to decide what jobs each individual gains.

Burnham is thought to be in the running to retain his post as shadow health secretary having made health policy a central part of his campaign to be party leader. He has been a vocal advocate for a national care service, a policy also endorsed by party leader Ed Miliband.

Balls is said to be competing with his wife Yvette Cooper, former work and pensions secretary, for the post of shadow chancellor.

First-time frontbench members include Mary Creagh who has been a campaigner for those with hearing loss after suffering it herself and Ivan Lewis, who was care services minister from 2006 to 2008. John Healey, former housing minister, will also take a seat on the frontbench.

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