Labour’s campaign team gets a shake up

It’s always been clear that Labour MPs from the 2010 intake would be playing a big role in the 2015 General Election campaign. That doesn’t just mean Chuka Umunna, Rachel Reeves, Tristram Hunt etc who are in the Shadow Cabinet. Today, three of those who’ve been getting their hands dirty on the doorstep have been given bigger roles in the campaign by Campaign Chair Douglas Alexander. They join fellow 2010 intake MP Michael Dugher, who will continue to “oversee communications” and “lead negotiations for Ed Miliband on the TV Leaders’ Debates”.

The three MPs taking on the new roles of campaign deputies –  Gloria De Piero, Jonathan Ashworth, and Toby Perkins – will be given formal roles in the Campaign, building on their roles during the 2014 local and European elections. De Piero has been touring the country campaigning over the past year. Ashworth has been working within the campaign – including liaising with PPCs in key seats, and Perkins has put in long hours for the party in by-elections across the country.

They aren’t surprising names to come to the fore in the campaign – all have earned their new roles. Their roles will include “liaising with prospective parliamentary candidates, maximising performance from field operations, and broadcast”. (Broadcast in particular is an interesting addition – De Piero has considerable experience there from her time working for GMTV – and Ed Miliband appears to be yet to hire the head of broadcasting he advertised for earlier this year).

All three Campaign Deputies will combine these new posts with their existing positions on Labour’s front bench and the Shadow Cabinet.

Campaign Chair Douglas Alexander announced the appointments this afternoon, and said:

“Gloria, Toby, and Jonathan have all contributed significantly to our work in recent months and I’m pleased to now formalise their places within Labour’s election team.

“I’m delighted to appoint them to key roles as Labour gears up to fight the next General Election.

“The talent and experience of these three new Campaign Deputies will contribute to a busy summer of campaigning ahead, followed by the conference season and the run-in to the short campaign.”

Congratulations to all three on their new roles.