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Jeremy Corbyn ally John McDonnell named shadow chancellor | Jeremy Corbyn ally John McDonnell named shadow chancellor |
(35 minutes later) | |
Jeremy Corbyn has unveiled what he called a "unifying" new shadow cabinet, naming his left-wing ally John McDonnell as shadow chancellor. | |
Defeated leadership rival Andy Burnham is shadow home secretary, while Hilary Benn remains shadow foreign secretary. | Defeated leadership rival Andy Burnham is shadow home secretary, while Hilary Benn remains shadow foreign secretary. |
The most senior roles on the Labour front bench are all taken by men, leading to criticism from some MPs. | |
But half of the total posts went to women, including shadow defence, education, business and health. | |
Angela Eagle, the new shadow business secretary, was also named shadow first secretary of state and will stand in for Mr Corbyn at Prime Minister's Questions when Prime Minister David Cameron is away. | |
Her twin sister, Maria Eagle, has been made shadow defence secretary. | Her twin sister, Maria Eagle, has been made shadow defence secretary. |
Mr Corbyn said his new line-up was a "strong combination of change and continuity", adding: "We have delivered a unifying, dynamic, inclusive new shadow cabinet which for the first time ever has a majority of women." | |
The appointment of Mr McDonnell, a close friend of Mr Corbyn who managed his campaign, is proving controversial among some Labour MPs. | The appointment of Mr McDonnell, a close friend of Mr Corbyn who managed his campaign, is proving controversial among some Labour MPs. |
The Hayes and Harlington MP has previously faced criticism for telling a union event that he would "like to go back to the 1980s and assassinate Thatcher" and in 2003 said IRA terrorists should be "honoured" for taking part in their "armed struggle", while attending a gathering to commemorate the IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands. | The Hayes and Harlington MP has previously faced criticism for telling a union event that he would "like to go back to the 1980s and assassinate Thatcher" and in 2003 said IRA terrorists should be "honoured" for taking part in their "armed struggle", while attending a gathering to commemorate the IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands. |
He previously said a Corbyn government would pledge to clear the budget deficit, "but not by hitting the poor". | He previously said a Corbyn government would pledge to clear the budget deficit, "but not by hitting the poor". |
Other appointments include: | Other appointments include: |
Chris Bryant, who is the new shadow Commons leader, told BBC News he had been offered the job of shadow defence secretary but turned it down because he disagreed with Mr Corbyn "about a lot of defence issues". | Chris Bryant, who is the new shadow Commons leader, told BBC News he had been offered the job of shadow defence secretary but turned it down because he disagreed with Mr Corbyn "about a lot of defence issues". |
He predicted Mr Corbyn's reign as Labour leader would be "bumpy ride", with most Labour MPs at odds with those who voted in the leadership contest. | He predicted Mr Corbyn's reign as Labour leader would be "bumpy ride", with most Labour MPs at odds with those who voted in the leadership contest. |
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. | 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. |
"This is the choice that Jeremy has made. I respect the choice that Jeremy has made as leader," he said. | "This is the choice that Jeremy has made. I respect the choice that Jeremy has made as leader," he said. |
In their interviews, Mr Benn and Mr Bryant both played down reports that Mr Corbyn could back leaving the EU in the referendum promised by 2017. | In their interviews, Mr Benn and Mr Bryant both played down reports that Mr Corbyn could back leaving the EU in the referendum promised by 2017. |
The Labour leader 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. | The Labour leader 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. |
Analysis | Analysis |
Analysis by Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor | Analysis by Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
There were concerns over how his appointment would appear and the impact it would have on the rest of the shadow team. | There were concerns over how his appointment would appear and the impact it would have on the rest of the shadow team. |
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 Mr McDonnell the position would be a "declaration of war" on the rest of the Parliamentary Labour Party. And Mr McDonnell's position was a factor in other MPs' decisions on whether to take a job. | 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 Mr McDonnell the position would be a "declaration of war" on the rest of the Parliamentary Labour Party. And Mr McDonnell's position was a factor in other MPs' decisions on whether to take a job. |
Read more from Laura | Read more from Laura |
Who's who in Corbyn's shadow cabinet? | Who's who in Corbyn's shadow cabinet? |
Peston: Would Corbyn balance the books? | Peston: Would Corbyn balance the books? |
Ahmed: What will business make of McDonnell? | Ahmed: What will business make of McDonnell? |
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. |
Mr McDonnell said the health and education portfolios were more important than the traditional "great offices of state". | Mr McDonnell said the health and education portfolios were more important than the traditional "great offices of state". |
He said: "It is interesting, Jeremy said very, very clearly that we don't accept the hierarchical nature of what we have inherited by these supposed top jobs. | He said: "It is interesting, Jeremy said very, very clearly that we don't accept the hierarchical nature of what we have inherited by these supposed top jobs. |
"They largely stem from the 19th Century when you had an empire and all that. | "They largely stem from the 19th Century when you had an empire and all that. |
"For most people the real top jobs are the ones that provide the services like health and education, those sorts of things. So he has broken with that tradition and I'm really pleased." | "For most people the real top jobs are the ones that provide the services like health and education, those sorts of things. So he has broken with that tradition and I'm really pleased." |
Heidi Alexander, the new shadow health secretary, said claims of a male-heavy top team were "nonsense". | Heidi Alexander, the new shadow health secretary, said claims of a male-heavy top team were "nonsense". |
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". | 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 needed to develop a coherent alternative economic strategy and Mr McDonnell "will simply not be able to do that", he added. | Labour needed to develop a coherent alternative economic strategy and Mr McDonnell "will simply not be able to do that", he added. |
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 Chuka Umunna, Mary Creagh, Tristram Hunt, Rachel Reeves, Chris Leslie, Jamie Reed, Emma Reynolds, Shabana Mahmood and Caroline Flint said they would not serve in Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet. | But the other leadership candidates Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall, as well as Chuka Umunna, Mary Creagh, Tristram Hunt, Rachel Reeves, Chris Leslie, Jamie Reed, Emma Reynolds, Shabana Mahmood and Caroline Flint said they would not serve in Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet. |
Europe disagreement | Europe 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 had 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 had 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". |
Read more about Corbyn's victory | Read more about Corbyn's victory |
What the media says about Corbyn | What the media says about Corbyn |
Business reaction to Corbyn win | Business reaction to Corbyn win |
Beginner's guide to Corbyn | Beginner's guide to Corbyn |
Who are Jeremy Corbyn's main allies? | Who are Jeremy Corbyn's main allies? |
24 things that Jeremy Corbyn believes | 24 things that Jeremy Corbyn believes |
The Jeremy Corbyn Story | The Jeremy Corbyn Story |
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. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |