Ed Miliband includes North MPs in 'New Generation'
Wearside MP Sharon Hodgson makes her debut as a Shadow Education Minister alongside Hartlepool MP Iain Wright
The region may not have anyone in the Shadow Cabinet, and only one representative in the Government, but a "new generation" of our MPs will be playing a part in Ed Miliband's Opposition team.
A host of northern MPs were included in the shadow team announced at the weekend.
And perhaps it's not surprising, given that the North East and Cumbrian contingent makes up a sizeable slice of the Parliamentary Labour Party.
Some had been ministers in the Brown government.
Durham North's Kevan Jones remains part of the Defence team, and Hartlepool's Iain Wright is a Shadow Education minister.
Their fellow Shadow Cabinet contenders have also gained jobs.
Bishop Auckland's Helen Goodman will be a shadow minister in the Justice department, and Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) will work in the Cabinet Office team.
New appointees though include Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Sunderland West) as a Shadow Education Minister, and Copeland's Jamie Reed who will shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Sharon Hodgson will shadow Children and Families - and free school meals.
She didn't have much time to master her brief though, as .
Jamie Reed though has had a more unusual entrance into the team. that he's spending the first week in hospital on a diabetic assessment course! ().
Tynemouth MP Alan Campbell has taken up a crucial role as Labour's Deputy Chief Whip.
One of the most crucial appointments though is that of Tynemouth's Alan Campbell as Deputy Chief Whip.
As a staunch supporter of David Miliband, he'll be crucial in healing any splits in the party.
He's joined in the Whips office by Workington's Tony Cunningham, Sedgefield's Phil Wilson and Blaydon's Dave Anderson.
But it's also striking that two of the 2010 intake have also made it into the shadow team.
(A position held in government by Redcar's Vera Baird).
As an employment lawyer, she'll now have to comb through government legislation to see if it's above board.
Finally, Chi Onwurah (Newcastle Central) is included in the Business, Enterprise and Skills team. Given she's an engineer with a passion for promoting manufacturing, it will be right up her street.
Of course though, welcome as these appointments are for the people involved, as long as Labour is in opposition, influence is limited.
And it is worth remembering that too of the North East's biggest hitters, David Miliband and Nick Brown, will have to make their contributions from the back benches.
I'm Richard Moss, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's Political Editor for the North East and Cumbria. Welcome to my irreverent - but hopefully insightful - northern take on reporting politics for Look North and the Politics Show.
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