After a day of speculation – and months of build up – the new Shadow Cabinet has been officially confirmed. Miliband’s team have say that they are “rewarding some of our most talented women and newest MPs”, and there are certainly some eye catching promotions (and demotions) in the list. Vernon Coaker makes a big jump up from Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary to take on the Defence Portfolio, with Jim Murphy taking what most will view as a fairly clear demotion to DFID. Ivan lewis moves from DFID to replace Coaker at Northern Ireland. Perhaps the biggest winner today though is Tristram Hunt, who is now Shadow Education Secretary, with Stephen Twigg moving to the Justice team as a Shadow Minister of State. Liam Byrne is out of the Shadow Cabinet too – he’s off to be Shadow HE Minister – and is replaced, as expected, by Rachel Reeves.
The Shadow Cabinet (including attendees) is now 44% female – up from 40% – so getting closer to Miliband’s target of 50%. But perhaps just as interestingly, 31% of the Shadow Cabinet were elected in 2010.
Douglas Alexander will, as expected, take on the role of Chair of General Election Strategy and Planning. Michael Dugher will have lead responsibility for communications and day to day campaigning, whilst Jon Cruddas remains the driving force behind the manifesto.
They won’t be running the election campaign on their own though – Spencer Livermore (former Director of Strategy for Gordon Brown) will be returning to work for the party as General Election Campaign Director -with responsbility for managing the General Election campaign. he’ll be starting later this year.
And finally – Lord Falconer will be advising Miliband on planning and transition into government.
Here’s the list:
Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party
Ed Miliband MP
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister, Party Chair and Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Harriet Harman MP
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Ed Balls MP
Shadow Foreign Secretary and Chair of General Election Strategy
Douglas Alexander MP
Shadow Home Secretary
Yvette Cooper MP
Shadow Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State for Justice and Shadow Minister for London
Sadiq Khan MP
Opposition Chief Whip
Rosie Winterton MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Health
Andy Burnham MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
Chuka Umunna MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Rachel Reeves MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Education
Tristram Hunt MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Vernon Coaker MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Hilary Benn MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
Caroline Flint MP
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and Chair of the National Policy Forum
Angela Eagle MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Mary Creagh MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Ivan Lewis MP
Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
Jim Murphy MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
Margaret Curran MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
Owen Smith MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Maria Eagle MP
Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office
Michael Dugher MP
Shadow Minister without Portfolio and Deputy Party Chair
Jon Trickett MP
Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
Gloria De Piero MP
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Chris Leslie MP
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
Lords Chief Whip
Lord Bassam of Brighton
Also attending Shadow Cabinet:
Shadow Minister for Care and Older People
Liz Kendall MP
Shadow Minister for Housing
Emma Reynolds
Shadow Attorney General
Emily Thornberry MP
Shadow Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Lord Wood of Anfield
Coordinator of the Labour Party Policy Review
Jon Cruddas MP
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