The Shadow Climate Change Secretary has not been forgiven by some in the Labour Party for his conduct as its leader.
The party is pinned down where it feels at home – in its new heartlands of central London, the middle of major cities and the University towns.
He will have to be more than a kind of North London John Smith if he wants to do more than just profit from the Government’s misfortunes.
The long-awaited Parliamentary Constituencies Bill will give voters fairer representation, and prevent political delay tactics.