 The first election to the Shadow Cabinet that took place under Miliband 's leadership was on 7 October 2010 . Ending days of speculation , David Miliband announced that he would not seek election to the Shadow Cabinet on 29 September , the day nominations closed , saying he wanted to avoid " constant comparison " with his brother Ed . The three other defeated candidates for the Labour leadership all stood in the election , though Diane Abbott failed to win enough votes to gain a place . Following the election , Miliband unveiled his Shadow Cabinet on 8 October 2010 . Among others he appointed Alan Johnson as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer , Yvette Cooper was chosen as Shadow Foreign Secretary , and both defeated Labour leadership candidates Ed Balls and Andy Burnham were given senior roles , becoming Shadow Home Secretary and Shadow Education Secretary respectively . Burnham was also given responsibility for overseeing Labour 's election co @-@ ordination . Sadiq Khan , who managed Miliband 's successful leadership campaign , was appointed Shadow Justice Secretary and Shadow Lord Chancellor , and continuing Deputy Leader Harriet Harman continued to shadow Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg , as well as being made Shadow International Development Secretary . Alan Johnson would later resign , stepping down for " personal reasons " on 20 January 2011 , necessitating Miliband 's first reshuffle , in which he made Balls Shadow Chancellor , Cooper Shadow Home Secretary and Douglas Alexander Shadow Foreign Secretary . 
