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Jeremy Corbyn gives top jobs to John McDonnell and Andy Burnham Jeremy Corbyn ally John McDonnell named shadow chancellor
(about 1 hour later)
Jeremy Corbyn has announced most of the key jobs in his first shadow cabinet, with defeated leadership rival Andy Burnham becoming shadow home secretary. Jeremy Corbyn has announced most of the key jobs in his first shadow cabinet, naming his left wing ally John McDonnell as shadow chancellor.
The new Labour leader named his campaign manager John McDonnell as shadow chancellor, while Hilary Benn remains shadow foreign secretary. Defeated leadership rival Andy Burnham is shadow home secretary, while Hilary Benn remains shadow foreign secretary.
It means the top roles on the Labour front bench are all taken by men. The top roles on the Labour front bench are all taken by men, leading to criticism from some MPs.
However, Angela Eagle, the new shadow business secretary, was also named shadow first secretary of state.However, Angela Eagle, the new shadow business secretary, was also named shadow first secretary of state.
It means she will stand in for Mr Corbyn at Prime Minister's Questions when Prime Minister David Cameron is away.It means she will stand in for Mr Corbyn at Prime Minister's Questions when Prime Minister David Cameron is away.
Lewisham MP Heidi Alexander will take over from Mr Burnham as shadow health secretary while Lord Falconer, a former flat mate of ex-PM Tony Blair, will continue as shadow justice secretary.
Chuka Umunna said he was leaving the front bench by "mutual agreement" and Mary Creagh also joined a number of MPs from the previous shadow cabinet who opted to return to the backbenches.Chuka Umunna said he was leaving the front bench by "mutual agreement" and Mary Creagh also joined a number of MPs from the previous shadow cabinet who opted to return to the backbenches.
Other confirmed appointments are:Other confirmed appointments are:
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said Mr Corbyn has achieved part of his first goal as leader - to include people from the centre of the party, including well-known names. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Benn defended Mr Corbyn, who he said had won a "thumping" victory in the leadership election, but declined to say he backed the appointment of Mr McDonnell.
But our correspondent added many MPs will find the appointment of Mr McDonnell - a key ally of Mr Corbyn on the left - "very hard to stomach". "This is the choice that Jeremy has made. I respect the choice that Jeremy has made as leader," he said.
He also said Mr Corbyn would not push to leave the EU in the referendum promised by 2017.
"Jeremy has made it very clear we are going to stay to fight together for a better Europe," he added.
Mr Corbyn has said he is not content with the EU as it stands, but wants to stay to fight for a "better Europe". He had previously refused to rule out campaigning to leave.
AnalysisAnalysis
By Eleanor Garnier, BBC political correspondent Analysis by Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor
They were locked in meeting after meeting and there were phone calls late into the night as Mr Corbyn and the party's chief whip, Rosie Winterton, worked to put a shadow cabinet team in place. Jeremy Corbyn said he would unite the party. Two days in he has two big problems - a lack of women in the top jobs, having promised a new equality, but a bigger one perhaps, his choice as shadow chancellor. The appointment of John McDonnell is a risk, a big risk.
The appointment of the veteran left winger John McDonnell as shadow chancellor will be controversial among many Labour MPs. I understand that Jeremy Corbyn was warned by members of his own camp not to give the crucial role of shadow chancellor to his close friend and campaign manager, John McDonnell.
Mr McDonnell, who wants to nationalise the banks, recently declared he would "swim through vomit" to vote against benefit cuts in defiance of his own party line. There were concerns over how his appointment would appear and the impact it would have on the rest of the shadow team.
Former shadow Scottish secretary Margaret Curran criticised the male dominated top team, saying Labour needed to be "better than this". Another backbencher called the appointments "a disgrace". He was also warned by at least one senior figure outside his campaign circle not to give him the job, the perception being that giving McDonnell the position would be a "declaration of war" on the rest of the Parliamentary Labour Party. And McDonnell's position was a factor in other MPs' decisions on whether to take a job.
But Angela Eagle - new shadow business secretary - will stand in for Mr Corbyn at Prime Minister's Questions when needed, while Heidi Alexander - an MP for just five years - becomes the shadow health secretary. Read more from Laura
As he left the Commons late last night, Mr Corbyn refused to comment when asked about the criticisms already being made about his new team.
Who's who in Corbyn's shadow cabinet?Who's who in Corbyn's shadow cabinet?
Several Labour politicians also criticised the new party leader for failing to give leading jobs to women.Several Labour politicians also criticised the new party leader for failing to give leading jobs to women.
Labour MP Diana Johnson tweeted the appointments were "so very disappointing", while former shadow Scottish secretary Margaret Curran tweeted that it needed "an urgent rethink".Labour MP Diana Johnson tweeted the appointments were "so very disappointing", while former shadow Scottish secretary Margaret Curran tweeted that it needed "an urgent rethink".
A Labour source told the BBC the shadow cabinet would have a majority of women.A Labour source told the BBC the shadow cabinet would have a majority of women.
Former home secretary Charles Clarke told Today Mr Corbyn had choices about his appointments, but "the choice he made was to go down the most hardline position there was".
Labour needs to develop a coherent alternative economic strategy and Mr McDonnell "will simply not be able to do that", he added.
In other developments:In other developments:
Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson had urged MPs to back Mr Corbyn.Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson had urged MPs to back Mr Corbyn.
But the other leadership candidates Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall, as well as Ms Creagh, Tristram Hunt, Rachel Reeves, Chris Leslie, Jamie Reed, Emma Reynolds and Shabana Mahmood said they would not serve in Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet.But the other leadership candidates Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall, as well as Ms Creagh, Tristram Hunt, Rachel Reeves, Chris Leslie, Jamie Reed, Emma Reynolds and Shabana Mahmood said they would not serve in Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet.
Ms Cooper will, however, chair a new party taskforce on refugees.Ms Cooper will, however, chair a new party taskforce on refugees.
Europe disagreementEurope disagreement
Mr Umunna - who pulled out of the leadership race days after declaring his candidacy earlier this year - described leaving the shadow cabinet as one of the most difficult "personal political decisions" he has had to make.Mr Umunna - who pulled out of the leadership race days after declaring his candidacy earlier this year - described leaving the shadow cabinet as one of the most difficult "personal political decisions" he has had to make.
"Whilst there is much on which Jeremy and I agree, there are a number of key points of difference on policy which I believe it would be dishonest to deny exist," the former shadow business secretary said."Whilst there is much on which Jeremy and I agree, there are a number of key points of difference on policy which I believe it would be dishonest to deny exist," the former shadow business secretary said.
He added he would "find it difficult to abide by the collective responsibility" of being in the shadow cabinet - "not least on the European referendum".He added he would "find it difficult to abide by the collective responsibility" of being in the shadow cabinet - "not least on the European referendum".
Mr Corbyn has said he is not content with the EU as it stands, but wants to stay to fight for a "better Europe". He had previously refused to rule out campaigning to leave.
Few MPs backed Mr Corbyn in the leadership contest - which he won with 59% of the vote - but his deputy Mr Watson told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show there was "zero chance of a coup".
However, he did concede that he had differences with Mr Corbyn over the leader's desire to scrap the Trident nuclear deterrent and take the UK out of Nato.
But he said his message for those refusing to serve in the shadow cabinet was "there's always someone else that can do a front bench job".
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What is your reaction to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's appointments? You can share your comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.What is your reaction to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's appointments? You can share your comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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