Miliband's new Shadow Cabinet meets for first time

ED Miliband’s top team met for the first time as his surprise pick for Shadow Chancellor Alan Johnson sparred for the first time with opposite number George Osborne.

The nine-strong “Yorkshire mafia” were among those taking their seats at the Shadow Cabinet table yesterday as Mr Miliband addressed his team ahead of today’s first appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions since becoming leader.

Mr Miliband was flanked by Deputy Leader Harriet Harman and Shadow Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper – while her husband Ed Balls, the Shadow Home Secretary, and Chief Whip Rosie Winterton sat each side of Mr Johnson, who was opposite the leader.

Ms Harman – who as interim leader after Gordon Brown’s resignation took on David Cameron at Prime Minister’s question time on several occasions – was among those giving Mr Miliband advice on his debut in today’s showdown.

But yesterday all eyes in the House of Commons were on Mr Johnson, the Hull West and Hessle MP, as he made his first appearance as Shadow Chancellor since shocking Westminster when he was given the job on Friday over Mr Balls and Ms Cooper, who both have economic backgrounds.

He will be responsible for spearheading Labour’s response to the Comprehensive Spending Review next week, and has laughed off attention on his lack of an economic track record.

In a gentle opening encounter, Mr Osborne joked: “I did the job for five years – I hope he does it for even longer than I did it.”

In response Mr Johnson made light of his background as he criticised the speed of cuts being imposed by the coalition. He said: “From my vast experience in this job, I’m absolutely clear about this: you say that the deficit was wrong and your emergency Budget measures were unavoidable.

“Actually I believe it’s the other way around. The deficit was unavoidable to avoid financial meltdown and your budget proposals were entirely wrong.”