Sir Keir Starmer’s shake-up of the shadow cabinet continued in earnest on Monday, with former Labour leader Ed Miliband returning to the fold as shadow business secretary.
Miliband tweeted that he was once again “looking forward to serving…alongside such a talented team”.
Having appointed leadership rival Lisa Nandy to the shadow cabinet over the weekend, Sir Keir has followed suit with another leadership candidate, Rebecca Long-Bailey, who has been handed the role of shadow education secretary left vacant by Angela Rayner’s elevation to deputy leader and party chair.
Emily Thornberry remains in the shadow cabinet as shadow secretary for international trade, while David Lammy was named new shadow justice secretary, John Healey the new shadow defence secretary and Jonathan Reynolds takes on the role of shadow secretary for work & pensions.
Sir Keir said that he was “proud” of the shadow cabinet he’d put together, saying that it “showcases the breadth, depth and talents of the Labour Party”. It is comprised of 17 women and 15 men, with seven of its members coming from black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds.
Two who will be shifting roles are Nia Griffith, who has transferred from defence to become shadow Wales secretary, while Andy McDonald will become the new shadow secretary for employment rights & protections after serving as shadow transport secretary. Jim McMahon will take over his former role.
Elsewhere among the appointments, Ian Murray, Labour’s only remaining MP in Scotland, has been named shadow secretary for Scotland, and Rosena Allin-Khan became shadow minister for mental health.
Valerie Vaz has kept her job as shadow leader of the House of Commons, as have Cat Smith and Lord McAvoy as shadow minister for young people & voter engagement and chief whip in the House of Lords respectively. Luke Pollard has also stayed on as shadow environment secretary.
Of the remaining new appointments, Lord Falconer was named new shadow attorney general, Bridget Phillipson the new shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, Steve Reed the new shadow communities & local government secretary and Thangam Debbonaire the new shadow housing secretary.
Preet Kaur Gill has been appointed the new shadow international development secretary, while Marsha de Cordova is the new shadow secretary for women & equalities.
Louise Haigh will assume Tony Lloyd's duties as interim shadow secretary for Northern Ireland, with Lloyd receiving treatment for Covid-19 in hospital.
