Reshuffle: Twenty MPs appointed to Labour’s frontbench

Jeremy Corbyn has reshuffled his frontbench with twenty fresh appointments including newly elected former MEPs Afzal Khan and Anneliese Dodds.

Chris Williamson, who regained his Derby North seat in June’s vote, has been appointed to home affairs. Williamson is an avowed Corbynista who strongly backed the Labour leader and his manifesto.

Rachael Maskell, who was a shadow cabinet member as shadow environment secretary before resigning her post to vote against article 50, returns to the frontbench in a more junior role in transport.

Tony Lloyd, who left parliament to become Manchester police and crime commissioner, a role now subsumed into Andy Burnham’s metro mayoralty, is appointed to the housing team.

Corbyn said of his new appointments: “I’m delighted to be filling Labour’s shadow front bench with a wealth of talent. Our new shadow ministers will bolster the excellent work of Labour’s shadow cabinet and departmental teams.”

“These appointments are further evidence that Labour is not just the opposition – we are the government in waiting.”

DEFRA
David Drew
Holly Lynch

Home Affairs
Nick Thomas Symonds
Chris Williamson – fire services
Afzal Khan – immigration
Louise Haigh – shadow police minister

Scotland
Paul Sweeney

Justice
Gloria de Piero
Imran Hussain

International Development
Roberta Blackman Woods

Transport
Rachael Maskell
Karl Turner – shipping, aviation and road safety

Treasury
Anneliese Dodds

Housing
Tony Lloyd
Melanie Onn

Women and equalities
Carolyn Harris

Defence
Gerald Jones

Local Government
Yvonne Fovargue

Education
Tracy Brabin – shadow minister for early years

Wales
Chris Ruane