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| Shadow cabinet resignations: who has gone and who is staying | Shadow cabinet resignations: who has gone and who is staying |
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| Gone from shadow cabinet | Gone from shadow cabinet |
| Hilary BennThe shadow foreign secretary was sacked in a 1am phone call on Sunday after making clear that he had lost faith in Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. The son of Corbyn’s former mentor, Tony Benn, his card had been marked as a potential threat by the leader’s office after intervening in last December’s parliamentary debate on whether to launch airstrikes against Syria. | Hilary BennThe shadow foreign secretary was sacked in a 1am phone call on Sunday after making clear that he had lost faith in Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. The son of Corbyn’s former mentor, Tony Benn, his card had been marked as a potential threat by the leader’s office after intervening in last December’s parliamentary debate on whether to launch airstrikes against Syria. |
| Heidi AlexanderThe shadow health secretary gained fans within the party for mastering the health brief and holding Jeremy Hunt to account. As MP for Lewisham East, she backed Andy Burnham to be leader last year and emailed activists during the campaign to say that Corbyn’s election “would cause division within the party”. | Heidi AlexanderThe shadow health secretary gained fans within the party for mastering the health brief and holding Jeremy Hunt to account. As MP for Lewisham East, she backed Andy Burnham to be leader last year and emailed activists during the campaign to say that Corbyn’s election “would cause division within the party”. |
| Gloria De PieroThe MP for Ashfield and former GMTV presenter was a surprise member of Corbyn’s shadow cabinet given that she is a member of the Blairite pressure group Progress. The shadow minister for young people and voter registration is seen as a prized asset by the party because she is a working class woman who cuts through to its traditional core voters in northern constituencies. | Gloria De PieroThe MP for Ashfield and former GMTV presenter was a surprise member of Corbyn’s shadow cabinet given that she is a member of the Blairite pressure group Progress. The shadow minister for young people and voter registration is seen as a prized asset by the party because she is a working class woman who cuts through to its traditional core voters in northern constituencies. |
| Ian MurrayThe Scottish secretary was seen as impossible to sack because he is Labour’s only surviving MP following the 2015 rout of Scottish Labour by the SNP. Murray, 39, is a party moderate who has attempted to work with Corbyn. Colleagues say he has become increasingly vocal in shadow cabinet meetings about Corbyn’s alleged inability to lead a campaign. | Ian MurrayThe Scottish secretary was seen as impossible to sack because he is Labour’s only surviving MP following the 2015 rout of Scottish Labour by the SNP. Murray, 39, is a party moderate who has attempted to work with Corbyn. Colleagues say he has become increasingly vocal in shadow cabinet meetings about Corbyn’s alleged inability to lead a campaign. |
| Lilian GreenwoodThe shadow secretary for transport took up the job in 2011 under Ed Miliband. Closely associated with Unison, the MP for Nottingham South is one of a group of union-backed frontbenchers who believe that Corbyn cannot carry on as leader. | Lilian GreenwoodThe shadow secretary for transport took up the job in 2011 under Ed Miliband. Closely associated with Unison, the MP for Nottingham South is one of a group of union-backed frontbenchers who believe that Corbyn cannot carry on as leader. |
| Lucy PowellThe shadow education secretary ran Ed Miliband’s successful campaign to become Labour leader. The MP for Manchester Central is the daughter of a social worker and a headteacher, and was born and bred in Manchester. Powell disclosed in September that she had not spoken to Corbyn during her previous three years in parliament. She was one of a handful of party centrists who received promotions under his leadership last year. | Lucy PowellThe shadow education secretary ran Ed Miliband’s successful campaign to become Labour leader. The MP for Manchester Central is the daughter of a social worker and a headteacher, and was born and bred in Manchester. Powell disclosed in September that she had not spoken to Corbyn during her previous three years in parliament. She was one of a handful of party centrists who received promotions under his leadership last year. |
| Kerry McCarthyThe shadow environment secretary was once seen as a Gordon Brown loyalist and supported Ed Balls against Ed Miliband in their leadership battle. The MP for Bristol East was said to be unhappy with Corbyn’s plans to scrap Trident and has expressed concerns about Corbyn’s lack of leadership to friends. | Kerry McCarthyThe shadow environment secretary was once seen as a Gordon Brown loyalist and supported Ed Balls against Ed Miliband in their leadership battle. The MP for Bristol East was said to be unhappy with Corbyn’s plans to scrap Trident and has expressed concerns about Corbyn’s lack of leadership to friends. |
| Seema MalhotraThe shadow chief secretary to the Treasury had previously remained loyal to Corbyn despite being understood to have had some personal misgivings with his ability to lead and his economic policies. The MP for Feltham and Heston is a former adviser to Corbyn critics Liam Byrne and Ian Austin. | Seema MalhotraThe shadow chief secretary to the Treasury had previously remained loyal to Corbyn despite being understood to have had some personal misgivings with his ability to lead and his economic policies. The MP for Feltham and Heston is a former adviser to Corbyn critics Liam Byrne and Ian Austin. |
| Vernon Coaker The shadow Northern Ireland secretary has struggled with serving in Corbyn’s team. The veteran MP for Gedling, who was a former policing minister and government whip, has told journalists that he felt obliged to join the shadow cabinet under Corbyn so that he could argue from the so-called “centre” of the party. His appointment to the role went some way to allay suspicions from unionists that Corbyn and the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, would only want to work closely with Sinn Féin. | Vernon Coaker The shadow Northern Ireland secretary has struggled with serving in Corbyn’s team. The veteran MP for Gedling, who was a former policing minister and government whip, has told journalists that he felt obliged to join the shadow cabinet under Corbyn so that he could argue from the so-called “centre” of the party. His appointment to the role went some way to allay suspicions from unionists that Corbyn and the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, would only want to work closely with Sinn Féin. |
| Lord FalconerCharles Falconer, the shadow justice secretary and former close associate of Tony Blair, was an incongruous fit with Corbyn. In September, he upset Corbyn supporters by disagreeing with the Labour leader’s plan to strip the Bank of England of its independence, dismissed claims that the Iraq war was illegal and dismissed comments made by John McDonnell that the IRA should be honoured. In January, he publicly disagreed with the decision to sack the Europe minister, Pat McFadden. | Lord FalconerCharles Falconer, the shadow justice secretary and former close associate of Tony Blair, was an incongruous fit with Corbyn. In September, he upset Corbyn supporters by disagreeing with the Labour leader’s plan to strip the Bank of England of its independence, dismissed claims that the Iraq war was illegal and dismissed comments made by John McDonnell that the IRA should be honoured. In January, he publicly disagreed with the decision to sack the Europe minister, Pat McFadden. |
| Karl Turner The shadow attorney general was appointed to the role in January 2016. The MP for Kingston upon Hull East replaced John Prescott in the seat in 2010 and has rarely rebelled against party policy, according to the website Theyworkforyou.com. He is the second MP to resign from the position over Corbyn’s leadership within the space of six months. He stepped up to replace Catherine McKinnell, who quit the job in January complaining of Labour’s “increasingly negative path”. | Karl Turner The shadow attorney general was appointed to the role in January 2016. The MP for Kingston upon Hull East replaced John Prescott in the seat in 2010 and has rarely rebelled against party policy, according to the website Theyworkforyou.com. He is the second MP to resign from the position over Corbyn’s leadership within the space of six months. He stepped up to replace Catherine McKinnell, who quit the job in January complaining of Labour’s “increasingly negative path”. |
| Chris BryantChris Bryant was never a key Corbyn ally, though that did not stop him standing up for his party leader in the House of Commons. He was shadow culture secretary and turned down the defence brief over what he called major policy differences, ending up with a demotion to shadow leader of the Commons. | Chris BryantChris Bryant was never a key Corbyn ally, though that did not stop him standing up for his party leader in the House of Commons. He was shadow culture secretary and turned down the defence brief over what he called major policy differences, ending up with a demotion to shadow leader of the Commons. |
| Gone as junior shadow ministers | Gone as junior shadow ministers |
| Frontbenchers | Frontbenchers |
| Staying as shadow cabinet members | Staying as shadow cabinet members |
| Andy Burnham The shadow home secretary has tweeted that he is not “going to take part in a coup”. Burnham, the MP for Leigh, ran for leader and lost out to Ed Miliband in 2010. In the last Labour government, he served as chief secretary to the Treasury, culture secretary and secretary of state for health. He hopes to be Greater Manchester’s first directly elected mayor in a vote next May. | Andy Burnham The shadow home secretary has tweeted that he is not “going to take part in a coup”. Burnham, the MP for Leigh, ran for leader and lost out to Ed Miliband in 2010. In the last Labour government, he served as chief secretary to the Treasury, culture secretary and secretary of state for health. He hopes to be Greater Manchester’s first directly elected mayor in a vote next May. |
| John McDonnellMcDonnell is seen as Corbyn’s primary ally, although the shadow chancellor was forced on Sunday morning to deny rumours that he was manoeuvring to replace his friend as leader. “I will never stand for leadership of the Labour party. If Jeremy has to stand for another leadership election, I will chair his campaign and I think the Labour party members will elect him again – but I think that’s unnecessary,” he said. | John McDonnellMcDonnell is seen as Corbyn’s primary ally, although the shadow chancellor was forced on Sunday morning to deny rumours that he was manoeuvring to replace his friend as leader. “I will never stand for leadership of the Labour party. If Jeremy has to stand for another leadership election, I will chair his campaign and I think the Labour party members will elect him again – but I think that’s unnecessary,” he said. |
| Diane AbbottAbbott has been the Labour leader’s fiercest advocate since he was elected to the role. The shadow international development secretary did the rounds on Sunday morning’s television insisting that Corbyn would not stand down as leader and would win any leadership election that was called. She said that those opposing him had been planning a coup for months. | Diane AbbottAbbott has been the Labour leader’s fiercest advocate since he was elected to the role. The shadow international development secretary did the rounds on Sunday morning’s television insisting that Corbyn would not stand down as leader and would win any leadership election that was called. She said that those opposing him had been planning a coup for months. |
| Jon TrickettThe shadow secretary of state for local government told the Guardian he was 100% behind Corbyn. “We need to get on with the business of offering an alternative vision of a Britain outside the EU to the one offered by [Michael] Gove and [Nigel] Farage, which is small-minded, inward looking and chauvinistic,” he said. | Jon TrickettThe shadow secretary of state for local government told the Guardian he was 100% behind Corbyn. “We need to get on with the business of offering an alternative vision of a Britain outside the EU to the one offered by [Michael] Gove and [Nigel] Farage, which is small-minded, inward looking and chauvinistic,” he said. |
| Emily ThornberryThornberry, who represents the neighbouring constituency to Corbyn’s, replaced Maria Eagle as shadow defence secretary in January after disputes over the party’s policy on nuclear weapons. She told the BBC that she was surprised by the resignations and that only the shadow Scotland secretary, Ian Murray, who resigned on Sunday morning, spoke out against Corbyn at Friday’s shadow cabinet meeting. | Emily ThornberryThornberry, who represents the neighbouring constituency to Corbyn’s, replaced Maria Eagle as shadow defence secretary in January after disputes over the party’s policy on nuclear weapons. She told the BBC that she was surprised by the resignations and that only the shadow Scotland secretary, Ian Murray, who resigned on Sunday morning, spoke out against Corbyn at Friday’s shadow cabinet meeting. |
| Lord Bassam of BrightonFormer leader of Brighton and Hove city council, Steve Bassam was made a life peer in 1997 and has been the chief whip in the House of Lords since May 2010. | Lord Bassam of BrightonFormer leader of Brighton and Hove city council, Steve Bassam was made a life peer in 1997 and has been the chief whip in the House of Lords since May 2010. |
| Angela SmithThe Labour MP for Basildon from 1997 until 2010, Lady Smith served as a Cabinet Office minister in Gordon Brown’s government. She was made a life peeress in 2010 and became leader of the opposition in the House of Lords in May 2015, a position she kept when Corbyn won the party leadership. | Angela SmithThe Labour MP for Basildon from 1997 until 2010, Lady Smith served as a Cabinet Office minister in Gordon Brown’s government. She was made a life peeress in 2010 and became leader of the opposition in the House of Lords in May 2015, a position she kept when Corbyn won the party leadership. |
| The new shadow cabinet appointments | The new shadow cabinet appointments |
| Shadow foreign secretary – Emily ThornberryThe MP for Islington South – her constituency border’s Jeremy’s – replaces Hilary Benn. She will be expected to scrutinise the process of detangling Britain from the EU and any new trade deals with the rest of the world. She resigned from the shadow cabinet during the 2014 Rochester byelection after tweeting a photograph of a council house draped in a flag of St George. | |
| Shadow health secretary – Diane AbbottA close friend of Corbyn’s for 40 years and the first black woman elected to the House of Commons. The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington has been a health minister before, under Ed Miliband, and is seen as a good media performer. Her abrasive style has meant that she has quite a few opponents in the parliamentary party. | |
| Shadow education secretary – Pat GlassThe MP for North West Durham has a long-term interest in education – she was a government adviser of special needs education and was in parliament’s education select committee. Just a month ago, while campaigning to stay in the EU, she was forced to apologise after suffering her own “Gillian Duffy” moment – she called a member of the public “a horrible racist” mistakenly thinking that a microphone had been turned off. | |
| Shadow transport secretary – Andy McDonaldThe MP for Middlesbrough was elected in 2012 following the death of Sir Stuart Bell and has been the shadow rail minister under Corbyn since January. He nominated Andy Burnham to be leader and is respected by the Corbynistas for his campaign work. | |
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