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Labour reshuffle: Abbott to shadow home secretary Labour reshuffle: Abbott to shadow home secretary
(35 minutes later)
Diane Abbott has been promoted to shadow home secretary in Jeremy Corbyn's reshuffle of his shadow cabinet.Diane Abbott has been promoted to shadow home secretary in Jeremy Corbyn's reshuffle of his shadow cabinet.
Shami Chakrabarti is shadow Attorney General while Jo Stevens is the new shadow Welsh secretary.Shami Chakrabarti is shadow Attorney General while Jo Stevens is the new shadow Welsh secretary.
Dame Rosie Winterton was replaced by Nick Brown as Labour chief whip, a job he held in the last Labour government.Dame Rosie Winterton was replaced by Nick Brown as Labour chief whip, a job he held in the last Labour government.
Former shadow home secretary Andy Burnham quit to run in the Greater Manchester mayoral election. Mr Corbyn has promised to unite his party following his re-election as leader last month.
Mr Corbyn, who was re-elected as Labour leader last month with an increased mandate, is embarking on a reshuffle of his top team. 'Talented women'
Some posts have been vacant since a wave of shadow cabinet resignations in the aftermath of June's EU referendum with some MPs taking on multiple portfolios.Some posts have been vacant since a wave of shadow cabinet resignations in the aftermath of June's EU referendum with some MPs taking on multiple portfolios.
A spokesman from his office said: "Jeremy has today spoken to a number of colleagues in the PLP (Parliamentary Labour Party) and will continue to do so throughout the day. Announcing changes to his top team, the Labour leader said in a statement: "I am delighted to confirm the appointments of four extremely talented women to our shadow cabinet.
"He has begun the process of appointing a new front bench team." "These appointments mean, for the first time ever, two out of the three traditional 'great offices of state' will be shadowed by women."
The first announcement to be made was the appointment of Mr Brown, in place of Dame Rosie. Ms Abbott, who held the shadow health brief, said of her new role: "I am honoured to serve. My first job when I left university was as a graduate trainee in the Home Office, so my career has come full circle."
Mr Brown said he hoped to "play a constructive role" in providing the "strongest possible opposition" to the Conservative government. The position was vacated by Andy Burnham who quit to run in the Greater Manchester mayoral election.
Dame Rosie, who was opposition chief whip since 2010, said it had been an "honour" to do the job. Baroness Chakrabarti, who was recently made a Labour peer, joins the shadow cabinet for the first time - as shadow Attorney General.
Mr Corbyn said in a statement: "I welcome Nick's agreement to serve as chief whip to the parliamentary Labour party. Her peerage was controversial as it was announced shortly after she had led a review into claims of anti-Semitism in the party.
"I would like to pay tribute to Rosie Winterton for her six years' exceptional service as chief whip. She has played an outstanding role in her support for me as leader and for the Labour Party as a whole." She said it was "an enormous privilege", and added: "I hope to follow in a great tradition of law officers on both sides of the aisle who have defended rights, freedoms and the Rule of Law."
Mr Brown, who served as chief whip under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, said of his new role: "I hope that I can bring experience and play a constructive role in providing the strongest possible opposition to this Tory government." In other reshuffle news, Sarah Champion has been made shadow women and equalities minister. She was previously shadow minister for preventing abuse and domestic violence, a job she returned to after resigning.
Meanwhile, Ms Winterton said: "It has been an honour to have served as Labour's chief whip for the past six years under three different leaders. New opposition chief whip Mr Brown, who served as chief whip under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, said he hoped to "bring experience" and "play a constructive role" in providing the "strongest possible opposition" to the Conservative government.
"I would like to thank the whips and the Parliamentary Labour Party for the support they have given me. I wish Nick Brown every success in his new role." Dame Rosie, who was opposition chief whip since 2010, said it had been an "honour" to do the job and thanked the whips and the Parliamentary Labour Party for their support.
Mr Corbyn paid tribute to her "six years' exceptional service" and said she had played "an outstanding role in her support for me as leader and for the Labour Party as a whole".
A number of MPs unhappy with Mr Corbyn's leadership have said they could not serve in his shadow cabinet, including his former challenger Owen Smith.A number of MPs unhappy with Mr Corbyn's leadership have said they could not serve in his shadow cabinet, including his former challenger Owen Smith.
Others are said to be considering serving under the leader if he reinstates elections to the shadow cabinet, which were axed by former leader Ed Miliband in 2011.Others are said to be considering serving under the leader if he reinstates elections to the shadow cabinet, which were axed by former leader Ed Miliband in 2011.
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said he understood Dame Rosie did not leave her job voluntarily, and that there was "some significance" to her removal.BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said he understood Dame Rosie did not leave her job voluntarily, and that there was "some significance" to her removal.
She had been trying to get a deal agreed on shadow cabinet elections and was seen as a "bulwark against attempts to deselect MPs that disagreed with Mr Corbyn".She had been trying to get a deal agreed on shadow cabinet elections and was seen as a "bulwark against attempts to deselect MPs that disagreed with Mr Corbyn".
"So some Labour MPs are worried that her removal will make it easier for Jeremy Corbyn's supporters to move against his critics," he said."So some Labour MPs are worried that her removal will make it easier for Jeremy Corbyn's supporters to move against his critics," he said.
But he said her replacement is not a "classic Corbynista", having been close to Gordon Brown, and so it could be a sign Mr Corbyn is trying to reach out to MPs to heal divisions.But he said her replacement is not a "classic Corbynista", having been close to Gordon Brown, and so it could be a sign Mr Corbyn is trying to reach out to MPs to heal divisions.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Jeremy Corbyn has told the BBC that there will be no shadow cabinet elections before November.
"The party will be discussing elections to the shadow cabinet as part of a wider party democratisation at a special November NEC and Jeremy is looking forward to hearing all views on the best way forward," the spokesman said.