Corbyn shadow cabinet


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. The usual number of junior shadow ministers were also appointed.
Corbyn appointed his first Shadow Cabinet in September 2015. A small reshuffle occurred on 5 January 2016, with one further resignation on 11 January 2016. Dozens of further resignations occurred on 26 and 27 June 2016.
The cabinet was reshuffled following the 2017 and 2019 general elections.

Shadow Cabinet from 2015 to 2020

Junior ministers by department

Key:

Leader's Office and Cabinet Office

Foreign Relations

Home Affairs

Economy

Social Services

Environment

Housing, Communities and Local Government

Devolved Nations

Parliament

Creation

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 further 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:
The remaining changes were as follows:
On 6 January 2016, Corbyn replaced Shadow Culture Secretary Michael Dugher with Shadow Defence Secretary Maria Eagle. He also replaced Shadow Europe Minister Pat McFadden with Pat Glass. 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. On 7 January, Reynolds was replaced by Andy McDonald, Doughty by Fabian Hamilton, Jones by Kate Hollern and Thornberry by Angela Rayner; as well as appointing Jenny Chapman to the education team and Jo Stevens to the justice team.
On 11 January 2016, Shadow Attorney General Catherine McKinnell resigned, citing party infighting, family reasons and a wish to speak in Parliament away from front-bench responsibilities. She was replaced by Karl Turner.

June 2016 reshuffle

Resignations

On Sunday 26 June and Monday 27 June 2016, a number of members of the shadow cabinet either resigned or were sacked. 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. Subsequently, the following resigned :
  • Heidi Alexander – Shadow Health Secretary
  • Gloria De Piero – Shadow Minister for Young People and Voter Registration
  • Ian Murray – Shadow Scottish Secretary
  • Lilian Greenwood – Shadow Transport Secretary
  • Lucy Powell – Shadow Education Secretary
  • Kerry McCarthy – Shadow Environment Secretary
  • Seema Malhotra – Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
  • Vernon Coaker – Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary
  • Charles Falconer – Shadow Justice Secretary
  • Karl Turner – Shadow Attorney General
  • Chris Bryant – Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
  • Diana Johnson – Shadow Foreign and Commonwealth Minister
On 27 June:
On 29 June:
  • Pat Glass – new Shadow Education Secretary
All cited concerns over the EU vote and Corbyn's leadership.
Lords leader Angela Smith of Basildon 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.

New appointments

Following the resignations, Corbyn appointed several new MPs to shadow cabinet positions:
  • Emily Thornberry – Shadow Foreign Secretary
  • Diane Abbott – Shadow Health Secretary
  • Pat Glass – Shadow Education Secretary
  • Andy McDonald – Shadow Transport Secretary
  • Clive Lewis – Shadow Defence Secretary
  • Rebecca Long-Bailey – Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
  • Kate Osamor – Shadow International Development Secretary
  • Rachael Maskell – Shadow Environment Secretary
  • Cat Smith – Shadow Minister for Voter Engagement and Youth Affairs
  • Dave Anderson – Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary
  • Dave Anderson – Shadow Scottish Secretary
  • Richard Burgon – Shadow Justice Secretary
  • Debbie Abrahams – Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary
  • Grahame Morris – Shadow Communities Secretary
  • Barry Gardiner – Shadow Energy Secretary
  • Jon Trickett – Shadow Lord President of the Council
  • Jon Trickett – Shadow Business Secretary
  • Angela Rayner – Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
  • Angela Rayner – Shadow Education Secretary
  • Paul Flynn – Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
  • Paul Flynn – Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
  • Kelvin Hopkins – Shadow Culture Secretary
  • Emily Thornberry – Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
  • Barry Gardiner – Shadow International Trade Secretary

    October 2016 reshuffle

Following his victory in the 2016 Labour leadership election, Jeremy Corbyn began a reshuffle of his cabinet on 7 October:
  • Leader of the Opposition – Jeremy Corbyn
  • Deputy Leader and Shadow Culture Secretary – Tom Watson
  • Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer – John McDonnell
  • Shadow Foreign Secretary – Emily Thornberry
  • Shadow Home Secretary – Diane Abbott
  • Shadow Education Secretary – Angela Rayner
  • Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary – Debbie Abrahams
  • Shadow Health Secretary – Jonathan Ashworth
  • Shadow Defence Secretary – Nia Griffith
  • Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury – Rebecca Long-Bailey
  • Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union – Keir Starmer
  • Shadow Business Secretary – Clive Lewis
  • Shadow International Trade Secretary – Barry Gardiner
  • Shadow Transport Secretary – Andy McDonald
  • Shadow Communities Secretary – Teresa Pearce
  • Shadow Environment Secretary – Rachael Maskell
  • Shadow Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor – Richard Burgon
  • Shadow Lord President of the Council – Jon Trickett
  • Shadow Attorney General – Shami Chakrabarti
  • Shadow Scotland Secretary and Northern Ireland Secretary – Dave Anderson
  • Shadow Wales Secretary – Jo Stevens
  • Shadow Housing Secretary – John Healey
  • Shadow Women and Equalities Minister – Sarah Champion
  • Shadow Black and Minority Ethnic Communities Minister – Dawn Butler
  • Shadow Voter Engagement and Youth Affairs Minister – Cat Smith
  • Shadow Cabinet Office Minister – Ian Lavery
  • Shadow Mental Health and Social Care Minister – Barbara Keeley
  • Shadow Minister without Portfolio – Andrew Gwynne
  • Shadow Leader of the House of Commons – Valerie Vaz