Alan Johnson a 'very interesting choice' says Margaret Beckett

Former leader of the deputy leader of the Labour Party Margaret Beckett has said the appointments to the shadow cabinet showed Ed Miliband was ''a politician of his word''.

Alan Johnson has been named shadow chancellor in a surprise move.

The new Labour leader has appointed Ed Balls as home secretary, while his wife Yvette Cooper is shadow foreign secretary.

Andy Burnham is shadow education secretary and John Healey, who did well in the poll of MPs, gets health.

Margaret Beckett described Mr Johnson's appointment as ''a very interesting choice''.