Cooper tipped for shadow chancellor
Labour leader Ed Miliband is hammering out the details of his top team, with Yvette Cooper installed as red-hot favourite to become shadow chancellor.
The former work and pensions secretary comfortably topped the secret ballot of MP colleagues to decide who should head up their attack on the coalition, followed by ex-housing minister John Healey and her husband Ed Balls.
Alan Johnson, Andy Burnham, Jim Murphy and John Denham were among other big names safely returned, along with Mr Miliband's leadership campaign manager, Sadiq Khan.
But a number of familiar figures from the previous government crashed out, including ex-Cabinet members Peter Hain, Ben Bradshaw and Shaun Woodward. Defeated leadership candidate Diane Abbott also failed to gain enough support.
Under Labour rules, when the party is in opposition its MPs vote every two years to decide who should be in the shadow cabinet.
A minimum quota of six women had also been imposed as part of efforts to promote equality.
However, that figure was exceeded, with the parliamentary party returning eight in total - including Caroline Flint, who quit Gordon Brown's government in 2008 complaining that female ministers were being treated as "window dressing".
Ex-Cabinet Office minister Tessa Jowell retains her status, while twin sisters Angela and Maria Eagle have been promoted to the top team, as have Meg Hillier and Ann McKechin. Mary Creagh enters the shadow cabinet despite never having served on the front bench before.
Mr Miliband has signalled that he will take his time finalising the line-up of his team, with the first formal appointments not expected until Friday morning.
But Ms Cooper was looking a near-certainty to take on the coveted Treasury portfolio after proving her popularity with 232 votes. Mr Healey came in a creditable second on 192, while Mr Balls secured 179. There was speculation that he could be handed the home affairs brief if his wife is made shadow chancellor.
