But it was all slim pickings and even the Labour front bench seemed less than engaged.
Prior to last week's party conference, Labour's front bench in opposition was elected every two years, but the Labour leader is now able to choose the members himself.
But Labour's front bench cannot agree whether to apologise for giddy levels of spending before the credit crunch, or to boast about them, sapping the party's credibility.
Prior to a vote at last week's party conference, Labour's front bench in opposition was elected every two years, but Mr Miliband is now able to choose the members himself.
Of course, Mr Letwin and Mr Cameron, both old Etonians, may simply be attempting to put some clear blue water between themselves and the more populist - or wilfully philistine depending on your point of view - elements on Labour's front bench.
But the squeeze has also left its mark on the front-line services Labour has staked so much political capital on improving.
The Labour candidate has pledged to protect front-line services but said she would also identify potential areas of savings in order to balance the budget.
"He knew he had to decide before the next election whether he was going to play a full role in the Labour Party, going to the front bench or whether he was going to leave, and it was a very difficult position for him, " he said.
Despite the polls, Labour can never be completely on the front foot.
It also included the address of the Cambridge Labour Party office and a small Animal Liberation Front (ALF) logo.
The international development secretary, Clare Short, was one of three front-benchers who resigned over Labour's support for the first Gulf War in 1991.
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Mr Milburn said Labour wanted to hand over control and budgets to front-line staff.
The Conservative-run council also said there will be no cuts in front-line services, but a Labour councillor branded that "rubbish".
She resigned from the front bench twice whilst in opposition accusing Labour spin-doctors ("dark forces") and the press of hounding her.
The opposition put up a united front when AMs discussed the first draft of Labour's budget last week.
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The next edition How to be an MP by Labour MP Paul Flynn will doubtless include that quote on the front cover.
Labour's Lord Falconer of Thoroton, speaking from the front bench for the first time since 2007, said that the government's response flew in the face of "pages and pages of evidence".
These workers are now in the front line of a campaign by big business to slash labour costs by 15-20%.
Stephen Hester, the RBS chief executive recruited on a commercial contract by the previous Labour government to salvage the stricken bank, found himself pilloried on tabloid front pages (photographs of him riding to hounds saw heavy use).
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Labour leader Ed Miliband, who was reading a photocopy of the newspaper's front page while Mr Osborne was speaking, demanded an investigation into the leak.
As the previous Labour government found to its cost as UK forces fought on two fronts in Iraq and Afghanistan, amid front pages about overstretch and an army "running hot", defence can become an explosive political issue.
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