Alan Johnson has resigned as Shadow Chancellor for "personal reasons". Ed Balls - said to have been snubbed in the original allocation of Shadow Cabinet jobs - replaces him.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12242397

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's papers, which will probably outline the revelations that caused him to resign.

You're assuming there's something to "reveal". It could just be that a family member is ill.

It's a shame but probably had to come at some point given his recent gaffes and it's not a bad time for it to happen. The high profile by-election has passed, Labour are surging ahead and there's not much coming up that comes down to stability in the Shadow Cabinet. Balls is a good option, he'll relish sinking his teeth into Gideon :D

 

Is he resigning as an MP as well?

He's staying as an MP, just stepping down from the Shadow Cabinet.

Probably for the best. I thought it was potentially a good appointment when it was first made, as I felt his obvious working-class credentials would be a plus against Kloses-holidaying Osborne - but it's become pretty obvious that he just isn't good enough at the technical aspects of the job, and it was annoying how he ruined any effective opposition to tuition fees rise that Labour could put up by constantly speaking out against the policy of a graduate tax.

 

While I think Balls will be good, I do think in some ways Yvette Cooper might've been a smarter choice - there's a LOT of room for Labour to pierce with women voters - they're more likely to be affected by the Tory-led government's slashing of public-sector jobs, yet they're still much more likely to be Tory voters than men are according to the polls.

You're assuming there's something to "reveal". It could just be that a family member is ill.

 

His wife has apparently been having an affair with his Protection Officer when he was Home Secretary.

His wife has apparently been having an affair with his Protection Officer when he was Home Secretary.

If those reports are true then it is to his credit that he has put saving his marriage ahead of any political ambitions. I also suspect that may be the real reason why he didn't stand for the leadership last year.