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Corbyn promotes Diane Abbott in shadow cabinet reshuffle Corbyn promotes Diane Abbott in shadow cabinet reshuffle
(about 1 hour later)
Jeremy Corbyn has forced through his first major changes since being re-elected as Labour’s leader, appointing his allies Diane Abbott and Shami Chakrabarti to top jobs within the shadow cabinet.Jeremy Corbyn has forced through his first major changes since being re-elected as Labour’s leader, appointing his allies Diane Abbott and Shami Chakrabarti to top jobs within the shadow cabinet.
But in a dramatic move which has dismayed many MPs, Rosie Winterton, the opposition chief whip, is to leave her post, to be replaced by Gordon Brown’s former government fixer Nick Brown. In a sign that he has tightened his control over the party, Abbott, a friend of Corbyn whose constituency neighbours his own, has been promoted from being shadow health secretary to shadow home secretary.
Brown, the 66-year-old Newcastle upon Tyne East MP, held the post of chief whip under Brown between 2008 and 2010, during which time he earned a reputation as a political bruiser.
His appointment was the first move in a major reshuffle of the party following Corbyn’s re-election as leader last month.
Abbott, a friend of Corbyn whose constituency neighbours his own, has been promoted from being shadow health secretary to shadow home secretary.
Lady Chakrabarti, who was ennobled by Corbyn weeks after completing a controversial report on antisemitism within the party, has been confirmed as shadow attorney general.Lady Chakrabarti, who was ennobled by Corbyn weeks after completing a controversial report on antisemitism within the party, has been confirmed as shadow attorney general.
Labour’s leader also appointed Dawn Butler to become the shadow minister for black and minority ethnic communities, which means that there are five MPs in the shadow cabinet from a BAME community – claimed to be the highest ever number.
But in a dramatic move that has dismayed many MPs, Rosie Winterton, the opposition chief whip, was sacked from her post. She is to be replaced by Gordon Brown’s former government fixer Nick Brown.
Brown, the 66-year-old Newcastle upon Tyne East MP, held the post of chief whip under Brown between 2008 and 2010, during which time he earned a reputation as a political bruiser.
Corbyn had promised to unite his party following his re-election as leader last month.
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.
It is understood that there will be further announcements over coming days.
Brown’s appointment was the first move in a major reshuffle of the party following Corbyn’s re-election as leader last month.
It was swiftly followed by the announcement that Abbott, 63, would shadow Amber Rudd’s role in the home office, overseeing anti-terrorism, immigration and the police.
“I am honoured to serve. My first job when I left university was a graduate trainee at the Home Office so my career has come full circle,” she said in a statement.
Chakrabarti, 47, the former director of Liberty was elevated to the House of Lords just a month after her antisemitism inquiry into the Labour party concluded.
Her peerage was met with fierce criticism from MPs and prominent antisemitism organisations who questioned her independence.
Chakrabarti has insisted there was “nothing remotely transactional” about her report when pressed if there were any talks about a peerage before it was completed.
The barrister Keir Starmer was named as shadow Brexit secretary, opposite David Davis. The MP for Holborn and St Pancras was director of public prosecutions until 2013. He has been described as a possible future leader of the party.
Other appointments include Sarah Champion, who resigned as abuse prevention minister in July. She has returned to be shadow women and equalities minister.Other appointments include Sarah Champion, who resigned as abuse prevention minister in July. She has returned to be shadow women and equalities minister.
Jo Stevens, the MP for Cardiff Central, has been given the post of shadow Welsh secretary.Jo Stevens, the MP for Cardiff Central, has been given the post of shadow Welsh secretary.
Dawn Butler, the MP for Brent Central, has been given the job of shadow minister for black and minority ethnic communities. Butler said: “I am very proud that the Labour party now has five MPs in our shadow cabinet from the BAME community – the highest number ever in any cabinet or shadow cabinet.” The others are Abbott, Chakrabarti, the shadow defence minister, Clive Lewis, and the shadow international development minister, Kate Osamor.Dawn Butler, the MP for Brent Central, has been given the job of shadow minister for black and minority ethnic communities. Butler said: “I am very proud that the Labour party now has five MPs in our shadow cabinet from the BAME community – the highest number ever in any cabinet or shadow cabinet.” The others are Abbott, Chakrabarti, the shadow defence minister, Clive Lewis, and the shadow international development minister, Kate Osamor.
In a carefully co-ordinated statement, Corbyn said: “I’d like to pay tribute to Rosie Winterton for her six years’ exceptional service as chief whip. She has played an outstanding role, both in her support for me a leader and the Labour party as a whole.” Jonathan Reynolds, the MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, has been appointed to the position of shadow economic secretary to the Treasury, opposite David Gauke.
Winterton played a key role in negotiations between Corbyn and the parliamentary Labour party following his victory last month. In a bid to stress regional balance in the top team, Corbyn said the appointment of Reynolds meant there were 10 MPs from the north of England on the frontbench.
But she has been under pressure from Corbyn’s allies to stand down. Winterton played a key role in negotiations between Corbyn and the parliamentary Labour party following his victory last month, and her sacking was a “shock”, a source said.
Following her sacking, Labour MP Neil Coyle wrote on Twitter: “There were plenty of spaces to fill in shadow cabinet if Nick Brown wanted one. Sacking the unifying chief whip shows ‘reaching out’ meant nothing.” The source said Winterton had believed she was still bridge-building between the leader’s office and the PLP, and was involved in conversations about the possible return to shadow cabinet elections over the past few days.
In a statement, Winterton said: “It has been an honour to have served as Labour’s chief whip for the past six years under three different leaders. 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.” On Thursday, her office received a surprise call from Corbyn’s office and was expecting to continue talks about party unity, but was instead removed from office.
Brown was Gordon Brown’s chief enforcer in the Commons from 2008 until the 2010 general election. “It came completely out of the blue,” the source said. “It’s not where we thought we were at all.”
He decided not to stand again to be Labour’s chief whip in September 2010 after the then incoming leader, Ed Miliband, told him that he would rather seek a new person. Winterton replaced him. Some MPs last night continued to criticise the shadow cabinet for being too allied to Corbyn’s powerbase in London – all the shadows of the four great offices of state are now London MPs – and for failing to embrace his critics.
Following Winterton’s sacking, Labour MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark Neil Coyle wrote that it was a blow for party unity. “There were plenty of spaces to fill in shadow cabinet if Nick Brown wanted one. Sacking the unifying chief whip shows ‘reaching out’ meant nothing,” he wrote on Twitter.
Middlesbrough South MP Tom Blenkinsop, who has criticised Mr Corbyn’s leadership in the past, tweeted: “Clear Corbyn wants submission not unity. Ignoring wishes of the PLP and just sacking and appointing regardless.”
Several prominent Labour figures took to Twitter to thank Winterton for her work, including former leader Ed Miliband and former deputy leader Harriet Harman.
Tom Watson, the deputy Labour leader, said: “Rosie Winterton held the position of chief whip in very difficult times ... it’s a tribute to her tact, diplomacy and patience that she held the position under three different leaders.”
In a statement, Winterton pointedly did not mention Corbyn by name. “It has been an honour to have served as Labour’s chief whip for the past six years under three different leaders. 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,” she said.
In a carefully co-ordinated statement, Corbyn said: “I’d like to pay tribute to Rosie Winterton for her six years’ exceptional service as chief whip. She has played an outstanding role, both in her support for me a leader and the Labour party.
Brown decided not to stand again to be Labour’s chief whip in September 2010 after the then incoming leader, Ed Miliband, told him that he would rather seek a new person. Winterton replaced him.
He also served as a minister for agriculture, fisheries and food, the north-east, and work and pensions.He also served as a minister for agriculture, fisheries and food, the north-east, and work and pensions.
With shadow chancellor John McDonnell expected to stay in place as shadow chancellor, and Emily Thornberry likely to retain the foreign affairs brief, the four most senior positions in the shadow cabinet will all be held by London MPs.
A party spokesman said: “Jeremy has today spoken to a number of colleagues in the parliamentary Labour party and will continue to do so throughout the day. He has begun the process of appointing a new frontbench team.”