Who is in Labour’s new Shadow Cabinet? Jeremy Corbyn selects newly elected MPs among handful of new faces
JEREMY Corbyn has left his Shadow Cabinet largely as it was after gaining seats in the General Election with a few additions here and there.
But eyebrows have been raised after he promoted two MPs who were only elected last month.
Who is in Labour's Shadow Cabinet?
After surprising Westminster by winning 30 more seats in June’s election, Corbyn has been shoring up support by placing a number of his supporters in his shadow cabinet.
Two surprise additions are newly elected and relatively inexperienced Afzal Khan and Anneliese Dodds.
Loyal supporter Chris Williamson, who regained his seat in Derby North, is appointed to home affairs, looking after fire services in the wake of the Grenfell tower fire.
Here is the full list of the Shadow Cabinet:
- Chancellor - John McDonnell
- Foreign Secretary - Emily Thornberry
- Deputy Leader, Culture Media and Sport - Tom Watson
- Home Secretary - Diane Abbott
- Lord President of the Council, Cabinet Office - Jon Trickett
- Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy - Rebecca Long-Bailey
- Education - Angela Rayner
- International Development - Kate Osamor
- Exiting the European Union - Keir Starmer
- Justice, Lord Chancellor - Richard Burgon
- Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Sue Hayman
- Voter Engagement and Youth Affairs - Cat Smith
- Leader of the House of Lords - Angela Smith
- Leader of the House of Commons - Valerie Vaz
- Housing - John Healey
- Lords Opposition Chief Whip - Lord Bassam of Brighton
- Work and Pensions - Debbie Abrahams
- Health - Jonathan Ashworth
- Women and Equalities - Sarah Champion
- Communities and Local Government - Andrew Gwynne (New)
- Diverse Communities - Dawn Butler
- Secretary to the Treasury - Peter Dowd
- Wales - Christina Rees
- Northern Ireland - Owen Smith (New)
- Scotland - Lesley Laird (New)
- Party Chair - Ian Lavery (New)
- Transport - Andy McDonald
- Chief Whip - Nick Brown
- Defence - Nia Griffith
- Attorney General - Shami Chakrabarti
- International Trade - Barry Gardiner
- Mental Health and Social Care - Barbara Keeley
- Home affairs - Chris Williamson
- The Shadow Minister for Young People and Voter Registration Gloria de Piero
- Front Bench as Shadow Environment Secretary Rachael Maskell
Who is Owen Smith?
Jeremy Corbyn brought back into the fold the man who tried to oust him last year.
Owen Smith, MP for Pontypridd, went head-to-head with the Labour leader as he went for the leadership in 2016.
Smith was appointed Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary and was the only senior figure who quit the frontbench to return.
His position will be crucial as Theresa May pulls together a deal with the hard-right DUP.
He said he was honoured to get the role, adding: "Helping bring about peace and powersharing in Northern Ireland is one Labour's proudest achievements."
What has Jeremy Corbyn said about the new cabinet?
As part of the reshuffle he cast aside David Anderson as Shadow Northern Ireland and Scotland Secretary, Tom Watson for Party Chair and Teresa Pearce for Communities and Local Government.
The Labour leader said: "I am delighted to announce four appointments to fill shadow cabinet vacancies. I look forward to working with the strengthened shadow cabinet as we prepare a government in waiting to carry out our manifesto for the many not the few.
"Our party is now on a permanent campaign footing in anticipation of the failure of Theresa May's attempt to establish a stable administration with the support of the DUP."