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Backbencher
Leader of the Opposition and Labour Party
Elections
Cultural depictions
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Jeremy Corbyn assumed the position of Leader of the Opposition after being elected as Leader of the Labour Party on 12 September 2015; the election was triggered by Ed Miliband's resignation following the Labour Party's electoral defeat at the 2015 general election when David Cameron formed a majority Conservative government.
Corbyn appointed his first Shadow Cabinet in September 2015. Major reshuffles occurred following mass resignations of Shadow Cabinet ministers in June 2016,[1] Corbyn's victory in the 2016 leadership election. Other reshuffles occurred throughout the Corbyn's tenure, including in the aftermath of Labour's defeat at the 2019 general election, after which he announced he would not lead the party into a third general election and would stand down after a 'period of reflection'. A leadership election was subsequently called for 4 April.
Current Shadow Cabinet[edit]
Initial Shadow Cabinet[edit]
Corbyn named his first Shadow Cabinet appointments on 13 September and announced its full composition on 14 September. One of Labour's largest reshuffles, the announcement was delayed by a large number of previous Shadow Cabinet members publicly announcing they would not participate under Corbyn, even if called to do so. The following members declined to serve:
- Chris Leslie (Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer)[2]
- Yvette Cooper (Shadow Home Secretary)[2]
- Chuka Umunna (Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills)[2]
- Rachel Reeves (Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions),[2] who was on maternity leave at the time of her announcement and the brief had been filled by Stephen Timms since shortly after the general election, who himself rejected a junior role[3]
- Tristram Hunt (Shadow Secretary of State for Education)[2]
- Emma Reynolds (Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government)[2]
- Caroline Flint (Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change)[2]
- Mary Creagh (Shadow Secretary of State for International Development)[4]
- Shabana Mahmood (Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury)[2]
- Liz Kendall (Shadow Minister for Care and Older People (attending Shadow Cabinet))[2]
Composition[edit]
In his inaugural Shadow Cabinet, 17 out of 31 members were women, making it the first frontbench team in British parliamentary history to comprise a female majority. Corbyn was criticised for giving what are traditionally seen as the top jobs (Chancellor, Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary) to men, although he insisted that positions such as Education and Health Secretary were just as important.[5]
All members of Corbyn's first Shadow Cabinet previously voted in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.[6]
- Changes
- 6–7 January 2016: Corbyn conducted a minor reshuffle:[N 1]
- 11 January 2016: Karl Turner replaced Catherine McKinnell as Shadow Attorney General[N 2]
June 2016 reshuffle[edit]
On Sunday 26 June and Monday 27 June 2016, a number of members of the shadow cabinet either resigned or were sacked citing concerns over the EU vote and Corbyn's leadership. This process began with Jeremy Corbyn sacking Hilary Benn as Shadow Foreign Secretary in the early hours of Sunday morning after Corbyn informed Benn that he knew Benn had been constructing a coup against the Leadership during the run up to the vote to leave the European Union.[11][12][13]
Lords leader Angela Smith and Lords chief whip Steve Bassam stated they would boycott shadow cabinet meetings while Jeremy Corbyn remained leader. They remained members of the shadow cabinet as these positions are elected by the Labour members of the upper chamber. They returned to attending shadow cabinet four months later.[14][15]
| Resignation date |
Resigning Shadow Minister[12][13] | Post | New Shadow Minister[16] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 June | Charles Falconer | Shadow Justice Secretary | Richard Burgon |
| 26 June | Heidi Alexander | Shadow Health Secretary | Diane Abbott |
| 26 June | Seema Malhotra | Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury | Rebecca Long-Bailey |
| 26 June | Ian Murray | Shadow Scottish Secretary | David Anderson[17] |
| 26 June | Lilian Greenwood | Shadow Transport Secretary | Andy McDonald |
| 26 June | Lucy Powell | Shadow Education Secretary | Pat Glass[N 3] |
| 26 June | Kerry McCarthy | Shadow Environment Secretary | Rachael Maskell |
| 26 June | Vernon Coaker | Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary | David Anderson |
| 26 June | Karl Turner | Shadow Attorney General | None |
| 26 June | Chris Bryant | Shadow Leader of the House of Commons | Paul Flynn |
| 26 June | Gloria De Piero | Shadow Minister for Young People and Voter Registration | Cat Smith |
| June 27 | Lisa Nandy | Shadow Energy Secretary | Barry Gardiner |
| June 27 | Owen Smith | Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary | Debbie Abrahams |
| June 27 | Angela Eagle | Shadow Business Secretary | Jon Trickett |
| June 27 | John Healey | Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning | None |
| June 27 | Nia Griffith | Shadow Welsh Secretary | Paul Flynn[18] |
| June 27 | Maria Eagle | Shadow Culture Secretary | Kelvin Hopkins |
| June 27 | Kate Green | Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities | Angela Raynor |
| June 27 | Luciana Berger | Shadow Minister for Mental Health | None |
| June 29 | Pat Glass | Shadow Education Secretary | Angela Raynor |
Composition[edit]
October 2016 reshuffle[edit]
Following his victory in the 2016 Labour Party leadership election, Jeremy Corbyn began a reshuffle of his cabinet on 7 October.[19] The Government having merged the Business and Energy departments, Corbyn appointed a Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Clive Lewis. The previous holders of the shadow Business and Energy portfolios retained their other portfolios: Jon Trickett (Shadow Lord President) and Barry Gardiner (International Trade), respectively. Nia Griffith replaced Lewis at Defence.
Tom Watson took on the Shadow Culture brief from Kelvin Hopkins, who left Shadow Cabinet. Watson was in turn replaced by Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office by Ian Lavery. Additionally, Kier Starmer took the shadow Brexit portfolio held by Emily Thornberry, but she retained Shadow Foreign Secretary. Also, Andy Burnham resigned as Shadow Home Secretary to campaign in the 2017 Greater Manchester mayoral election. He was replaced by Diane Abbott, the Shadow Health Secretary. Jon Ashworth succeeded her and was in turn succeeded as Shadow Minister without portfolio by Andrew Gwynne.
Paul Flynn retired from Shadow Cabinet. Valerie Vaz replaced him as Shadow Leader of the House, and Jo Stevens took over from him as Shadow Welsh Secretary. Grahame Morris also left Shadow Cabinet, and Teresa Pearce succeeded him as Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary and Shadow Minister for the Constitutional Convention. John Healey returned to Shadow Cabinet, again taking the Housing portfolio (which in Government was part of the Department for Communities and Local Government), this time as Shadow Secretary of State rather than Shadow Minister. Two other posts left vacant at the June reshuffle were filled: Barbara Keeley became Shadow Minister for Mental Health, and Shami Chakrabarti was created a life peer and appointed Shadow Attorney General. The new post of Shadow Minister for Diverse Communities was created with Dawn Butler as the first holder.
The Opposition Chief Whip, Rosie Winterton, was replaced by Nick Brown, who had been Government Chief Whip under Gordon Brown Baroness Smith and Lord Bassam, respectively Labour's Leader and Chief Whip in the Lords, ended their Shadow Cabinet boycott.
- Changes
- 27 January 2017 – 9 February: [N 4]
- Jo Stevens resigned as Shadow Welsh Secretary on 27 January and was replaced by Christina Rees.[21]
- Dawn Butler resigned 1 February as Shadow Minister for Diverse Communities, but was not replaced.[22]
- Rachael Maskel, also on 1 February, resigned as Shadow Environment Secretary and was succeeded by Sue Hayman[22]
- Clive Lewis resigned as Shadow Business Secretary on 8 February.[23] Corbyn appointed Rebecca Long-Bailey to replace him and Peter Dowd to replace her as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
June 2017 reshuffle[edit]
Following the 2017 general election, Corbyn began a reshuffle of his shadow cabinet:[24]
On 14 June 2017:
- Emily Thornberry was appointed Shadow First Secretary of State;
- Owen Smith was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland;
- Andrew Gwynne was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government;
- Dawn Butler was appointed Shadow Minister for Diverse Communities;
- Lesley Laird was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland.
- Changes
- August 2017: Dawn Butler was appointed Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, replacing Sarah Champion.
- January 2018: Lord McAvoy was elected Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords, replacing Lord Bassam.
- March 2018: Corbyn sacked Debbie Abahams (Shadow Work and Pensions) and Owen Smith (Shadow Northern Ireland). Margaret Greenwood replaced Abrahams, and Tony Lloyd succeeded Smith.
- December 2018: Kate Osamor resigned as Shadow Secretary of State for International Development. She was replaced by Dan Carden.
- December 2019: Tom Watson announced he would not stand for re-election at the 2019 general election and resigned as Deputy Leader effective 12 December (polling day), leaving the role of Shadow Culture Secretary post vacant. In addition Sue Hayman (Defra), Lesley Laird (Scotland), and Laura Pidcock
Notes[edit]
- ^ Corbyn also replaced Shadow Europe Minister (not attending Shadow Cabinet) Pat McFadden with Pat Glass.[7] The reshuffle prompted three junior shadow ministers to resign in solidarity with McFadden: Shadow Rail Minister Jonathan Reynolds, Shadow Defence Minister Kevan Jones and Shadow Foreign Minister Stephen Doughty.[7][8] On 7 January, Reynolds was replaced by Andy McDonald, Doughty by Fabian Hamilton and Jones by Kate Hollern. Angela Rayner succeeded the promoted Thornberry as Shadow Employment minister, and Jenny Chapman was added to the Education team and Jo Stevens to the Justice team.[9]
- ^ McKinnell resigned citing party infighting, family reasons and a wish to speak in Parliament away from frontbench responsibilities.[10]
- ^ Glass was appointed to replace Powell but chose to resign himself on 29 July.[13]
- ^ Jeremy Corbyn was reported to be preparing to order Labour MPs to vote to support triggering Article 50 in the vote on the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill 2017, in line with a three-line whip,[20] triggering four resignations from Shadow Cabinet and a number of junior shadow ministers.
See also[edit]
- Official Opposition (United Kingdom)
- Official Opposition frontbench
- Cabinet of the United Kingdom
- British Government frontbench
- Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team
- Frontbench Team of Ian Blackford
References[edit]
- ^ Syal, Rajeev; Perraudin, Frances; Slawson, Nicola (27 June 2016). "Shadow cabinet resignations: who has gone and who is staying". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Riley-Smith, Ben (14 September 2015). "Chaos behind Jeremy Corbyn's reshuffle revealed". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ Murphy, Joe (15 September 2015). "Jeremy Corbyn: I won't wear White Poppy at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- ^ "Andy Burnham and John McDonnell get top jobs in Corbyn's Shadow Cabinet". The Daily Telegraph. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ Dathan, Matt (14 September 2015). "Jeremy Corbyn comes out fighting amid sexism row and insists shadow Cabinet positions he has given to women are the real 'top jobs'". The Independent. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ Wells, Nick (14 September 2015). "Labour's new shadow cabinet all voted in favour of same-sex marriage". PinkNews. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Labour reshuffle: Thornberry replaces Eagle for defence, McFadden sacked and Benn stays".
- ^ Frances Perraudin and Rowena Mason. "Three shadow ministers resign over Corbyn's 'dishonest' reshuffle". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
- ^ Perraudin, Frances (7 January 2016). "Six junior shadow ministers appointed as Corbyn completes reshuffle". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ^ Perraudin, Frances (11 January 2016). "Labour's Catherine McKinnell quits shadow cabinet". BBC News. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ^ Asthana, Anushka; Boffey, Daniel; Phipps, Claire (26 June 2016). "Labour in crisis: shadow ministers resign in protests against Corbyn". The Observer. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ a b Staff writer (28 June 2016). "Who's staying and who's going in the shadow cabinet?". BBC News. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ a b c Syal, Rajeev; Perraudin, Frances; Slawson, Nicola (26 June 2016). "Shadow cabinet resignations: who has gone and who is staying". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ "Who's staying and who's going in the shadow cabinet?". BBC News. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ Edwards, Peter (11 October 2016). "Peers return to shadow Cabinet four months after summer rebellion". LabourList. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ "Jeremy Corbyn unveils new top team after resignations". BBC News. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ "English MP Dave Anderson is shadow Scottish Secretary". BBC News. 1 July 2016. Archived from the original on 4 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
- ^ Silk, Huw (3 July 2016). "Newport MP Paul Flynn, 81, appointed shadow Welsh secretary by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn". WalesOnline. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
- ^ "Labour's new shadow cabinet in full". BBC News. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
- ^ "Corbyn to order Labour MPs to vote for article 50 trigger". The Guardian. 19 January 2017.
{{cite news}}: Cite uses deprecated parameter|authors=(help) - ^ Tamara Cohen (27 January 2017). "Jo Stevens quits shadow cabinet over Corbyn's Brexit stance". Sky News.
- ^ a b "Brexit bill: two more shadow cabinet members resign". The Guardian. 1 February 2017.
{{cite news}}: Cite uses deprecated parameter|authors=(help) - ^ "Brexit vote: Clive Lewis quits shadow cabinet as MPs back bill". BBC News. 8 February 2017.
- ^ "Corbyn reshuffle: Owen Smith joins shadow cabinet". The Guardian. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
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