Generation game

Never before has one region enjoyed so much influence, numerically-speaking at least, in a party's upper echelons; Mr Miliband is one of nine shadow ministers from Yorkshire who hope to form the next Labour government.

From this region's perspective, it can only be beneficial that Alan Johnson, Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper have been awarded the three most important briefs.

Experienced politicians, they should have the expertise to scrutinise the Government effectively and ensure that Yorkshire is not unduly compromised by the coalition's cuts.

It will not be easy. For, while these appointments represents a fresh start for Labour, Mr Miliband's ministers are familiar faces. Of the 19 MPs elected to the shadow Cabinet, 11 served as full Cabinet ministers under Gordon Brown, while the other eight held lesser positions. And herein lies the rub for Mr Miliband. Each of his colleagues is culpable, in some way, for Labour's ruinous handling of the public finances. Voters will not forgive, or forget, in a hurry. Furthermore, 12 members of the Doncaster North MP's team voted for the Iraq war.

In demonstrating that Labour is, genuinely, a government-in-waiting, Mr Miliband must prove that his party has learned from its mistakes and its new policies are realistic and affordable.

It is why Mr Johnson's unexpected appointment as shadow Chancellor is so eyecatching. The new Labour leader appears to have rejected Ed Balls's assertion that the spending cuts should be delayed. He clearly realises that this approach is politically-flawed.

Yet there's another reason why Mr Johnson's elevation could be inspired. Unlike the three party leaders who can all be described as "career politicians" aged in their early 40s, the Hull West and Hessle MP overcame tremendous poverty during his childhood before forging a successful career. He is in touch with his roots.

Now an established member of the political and professional class, Mr Johnson's life journey will be invaluable in forging a set of policies that are fair to all – whether it be those living in poverty or the "wealth-creators" who need the right business environment to create much-needed jobs here in Yorkshire and elsewhere.

If he can overcome his lack of economic experience, Mr Johnson will have provided Labour with an electoral lifeline that the party, frankly, does not deserve after bequeathing the nation a record budget deficit that will dominate domestic politics for a generation.