Corbyn shadow cabinet


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. The usual number of junior shadow ministers were also appointed.
Corbyn appointed his first [Official Opposition Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom)|Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom)|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:

Devolved Nations


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:

Composition

  • 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 to men, although he insisted that positions such as Education and Health Secretary were just as important.
  • All members of Corbyn's first Shadow Cabinet previously voted in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.

January 2016 reshuffle

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 :
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:

October 2016 reshuffle

Following his victory in the 2016 Labour leadership election, Jeremy Corbyn began a reshuffle of his cabinet on 7 October:

Summary of changes

Owen Smith, who lost to Corbyn in the preceding leadership election, declined to continue in Shadow Cabinet, if offered. Angela Smith and Steve Bassam formally returned to Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Leader of the House of Lords and Shadow Chief Whip of the House of Lords after boycotting following the June reshuffle.

February 2017 reshuffle

Resignations

On Thursday 19 January, 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. This triggered the following resignations from the frontbench :
On Thursday 26 January:
On Friday 27 January:
On Wednesday 1 February:
On Wednesday 8 February:

Replacements

June 2017 reshuffles

Following the 2017 general election, Corbyn began a reshuffle of his shadow cabinet:
On 14 June 2017:
Later that month, Corbyn sacked three shadow ministers and a fourth resigned. This was after they had rebelled against party orders to abstain in the vote on a motion that was proposed by the then Labour MP Chuka Umunna and was aimed at keeping the UK in the EU single market.

August 2017

Dawn Butler was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, replacing Sarah Champion.

October 2017

Richard Corbett was elected Leader of the European Parliamentary Labour Party, replacing Glenis Willmott and attending Shadow Cabinet meetings.

January 2018

Tommy McAvoy was elected Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords, replacing Steve Bassam.

March 2018

Debbie Abrahams, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, was sacked. She was replaced by Margaret Greenwood. Owen Smith, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, was sacked. He was replaced by Tony Lloyd.

December 2018

Kate Osamor, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, resigned. She was replaced by Dan Carden.

January 2020

2020 post-election cabinet reshuffle

In the 2019 general election, a number of Shadow Ministers lost their seats; mostly to Boris Johnson's Conservatives. The following replacement appointments were made.
As Tom Watson stood down at the election, he was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport by Tracy Brabin.
Newcomer MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy was immediately appointed Shadow Minister for Immigration.

Positions without successors

  • Karen Lee was not replaced as Shadow Fire and Rescue Services Minister.
  • David Drew was not replaced as Shadow Farming and Rural Communities Minister
  • Sandy Martin was not replaced as Shadow Minister for Waste and Recycling.
  • Danielle Rowley was not replaced as Shadow Minister for Climate Justice and Green Jobs.
  • Paula Sherriff was not replaced as Shadow Minister for Social Care and Mental Health.
  • Paul Sweeney was not replaced as Shadow Scotland Minister.