Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
The shadow minister for women and equalities is a position in the United Kingdom's Official Opposition, and sits in the Shadow Cabinet. The shadow minister is responsible for holding the minister for women and equalities, responsible for the Government Equalities Office, to account and is responsible for Opposition policy on women's and equality issues.
The post was upgraded to the Shadow Cabinet rank of shadow secretary of state following the snap general election of 2017, with Jeremy Corbyn indicating that if Labour win office at the next election, Women and Equalities will be upgraded to the full status of a government department. Keir Starmer continued this pledge but ultimately continued with a Minister for Women and Equalities when he entered government in July 2024. Previously, the post was often held together with a Shadow Cabinet post, but sometimes as a Shadow Cabinet post in its own right.
The position, since its creation in 1983, has always been held by a female member of parliament. Since November 2024, the position has been split into to the Shadow Minister for Women and Shadow Minister for Equalities, held by Mims Davies and Claire Coutinho respectively.
Shadow ministers
Shadow Minister for Women
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Shadow Minister for Women and Equality
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Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
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Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities
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Shadow Minister for Women and Shadow Minister for Equalities
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