Shadow Cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn


assumed the position of Leader of the Opposition after being elected as leader of the Labour Party on 12 September 2015; the election was triggered by Ed Miliband's resignation following the Labour Party's electoral defeat at the 2015 general election when David Cameron formed a majority Conservative government.
Corbyn appointed his first Shadow Cabinet in September 2015. A small reshuffle occurred on 5 January 2016, with one further resignation on 11 January 2016. Dozens of further resignations occurred on 26 and 27 June 2016. The cabinet was reshuffled following the 2017 and 2019 general elections.

Shadow Cabinet from 2015 to 2020

PortfolioShadow MinisterTerm
Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Labour Party
Jeremy Corbyn2015–2020
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Tom Watson2015–2019
Deputy Leader of the Labour PartyVacant2019–2020
Shadow First Secretary of StateAngela Eagle2015–2016
Shadow First Secretary of StateVacant2016–2017
Shadow First Secretary of StateEmily Thornberry2017–2020
Shadow Chancellor of the ExchequerJohn McDonnell2015–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsHilary Benn2015–2016
Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsEmily Thornberry2016–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentAndy Burnham2015–2016
Shadow Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentLyn Brown2017
Shadow Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentDiane Abbott2016–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Angela Eagle2015–2016
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Jon Trickett2016
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Clive Lewis2016–2017
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Rebecca Long-Bailey2017–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social CareHeidi Alexander2015–2016
Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social CareDiane Abbott2016
Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social CareJonathan Ashworth2016–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for EducationLucy Powell2015–2016
Shadow Secretary of State for EducationPat Glass2016
Shadow Secretary of State for EducationAngela Rayner2016–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European UnionEmily Thornberry2016
Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European UnionKeir Starmer2016–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
Shadow Lord Chancellor
The Lord Falconer of Thoroton2015–2016
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
Shadow Lord Chancellor
Richard Burgon2016–2020
Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities
Kate Green2015–2016
Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities
Angela Rayner2016
Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities
Sarah Champion2016–2017
Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities
Dawn Butler2017–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for International DevelopmentDiane Abbott2015–2016
Shadow Secretary of State for International DevelopmentKate Osamor2016–2018
Shadow Secretary of State for International DevelopmentDan Carden2018–2020
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords The Baroness Smith of Basildon2015–2020
Shadow Leader of the House of CommonsChris Bryant2015–2016
Shadow Leader of the House of CommonsPaul Flynn2016
Shadow Leader of the House of CommonsValerie Vaz2016–2020
Shadow Lord President of the CouncilJon Trickett2016–2020
Shadow Minister for the Cabinet OfficeTom Watson2015–2016
Shadow Minister for the Cabinet OfficeIan Lavery2016–2017
Shadow Minister for the Cabinet OfficeJon Trickett2017–2020
Shadow Minister of State for the Cabinet Office
Deputy Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office
Laura Smith2018
Shadow Minister of State for the Cabinet Office
Deputy Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office
Jo Platt2018–2019
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and PensionsOwen Smith2015–2016
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and PensionsDebbie Abrahams2016–2018
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and PensionsMargaret Greenwood2018–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for HousingJohn Healey2016–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local GovernmentJon Trickett2015–2016
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local GovernmentGrahame Morris2016
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local GovernmentTeresa Pearce2016–2017
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local GovernmentAndrew Gwynne2017–2020
Shadow Chief Secretary to the TreasurySeema Malhotra2015–2016
Shadow Chief Secretary to the TreasuryRebecca Long-Bailey2016–2017
Shadow Chief Secretary to the TreasuryPeter Dowd2017–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for WalesNia Griffith2015–2016
Shadow Secretary of State for WalesPaul Flynn2016
Shadow Secretary of State for WalesJo Stevens2016–2017
Shadow Secretary of State for WalesChristina Rees2017–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern IrelandVernon Coaker2015–2016
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern IrelandDave Anderson2016–2017
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern IrelandOwen Smith2017–2018
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern IrelandTony Lloyd2018–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for ScotlandIan Murray2015–2016
Shadow Secretary of State for ScotlandDave Anderson2016–2017
Shadow Secretary of State for ScotlandLesley Laird2017–2019
Shadow Secretary of State for ScotlandTony Lloyd2019–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for TransportLilian Greenwood2015–2016
Shadow Secretary of State for TransportAndy McDonald2016–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for DefenceMaria Eagle2015–2016
Shadow Secretary of State for DefenceEmily Thornberry2016
Shadow Secretary of State for DefenceClive Lewis2016
Shadow Secretary of State for DefenceNia Griffith2016–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade
Shadow Minister for International Climate Change
Barry Gardiner2016–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and SportMichael Dugher2015–2016
Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and SportMaria Eagle2016
Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and SportKelvin Hopkins2016
Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and SportTom Watson2016–2019
Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and SportTracy Brabin2019–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsKerry McCarthy2015–2016
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsRachael Maskell2016–2017
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsSue Hayman2017–2019
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsLuke Pollard2019–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for Employment RightsLaura Pidcock2019
Shadow Secretary of State for Employment RightsRachel Maskell2019–2020
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Lisa Nandy2015–2016
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Barry Gardiner2016
Shadow Attorney GeneralCatherine McKinnell2015–2016
Shadow Attorney GeneralKarl Turner2016
Shadow Attorney GeneralThe Baroness Chakrabarti2016–2020
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of CommonsRosie Winterton2015–2016
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of CommonsNick Brown2016–2020
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of LordsThe Lord Bassam of Brighton2015–2018
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of LordsLord McAvoy2018–2020
Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Social CareLuciana Berger2015–2016
Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Social CareBarbara Keeley2016–2020
Shadow Minister for Young People and Voter Registration
Shadow Minister for Voter Engagement and Youth Affairs
Gloria De Piero2015–2016
Shadow Minister for Young People and Voter Registration
Shadow Minister for Voter Engagement and Youth Affairs
Cat Smith2016–2020
Shadow Minister without PortfolioJonathan Ashworth2015–2016
Shadow Minister without PortfolioAndrew Gwynne2016–2017
Shadow Minister without PortfolioIan Lavery2017–2020
Chairman of the Labour PartyTom Watson2015–2017
Chairman of the Labour PartyIan Lavery2017–2020
Co–National Campaign CoordinatorAndrew Gwynne
Ian Lavery
2017–2020
Co–National Campaign Coordinator--

Creation

Corbyn named his first Shadow Cabinet appointments on 13 September and announced its full composition on 14 September. One of Labour's largest reshuffles, the announcement was further delayed by a large number of previous Shadow Cabinet members publicly announcing they would not participate under Corbyn, even if called to do so. The following members declined to serve:
The remaining changes are as follows:
On 6 January 2016, Corbyn replaced Shadow Culture Secretary Michael Dugher with Shadow Defence Secretary Maria Eagle. He also replaced Shadow Europe Minister Pat McFadden with Pat Glass. The reshuffle prompted three junior shadow ministers to resign in solidarity with McFadden: Shadow Rail Minister Jonathan Reynolds, Shadow Defence Minister Kevan Jones and Shadow Foreign Minister Stephen Doughty. On 7 January, Reynolds was replaced by Andy McDonald, Doughty by Fabian Hamilton, Jones by Kate Hollern and Thornberry by Angela Rayner; as well as appointing Jenny Chapman to the education team and Jo Stevens to the justice team.
On 11 January 2016, Shadow Attorney General Catherine McKinnell resigned, citing party infighting, family reasons and a wish to speak in Parliament away from front-bench responsibilities. She was replaced by Karl Turner.

June 2016 reshuffle

Resignations

On Sunday 26 June and Monday 27 June 2016, a number of members of the shadow cabinet either resigned or were sacked. This process began with Jeremy Corbyn sacking Hilary Benn as Shadow Foreign Secretary in the early hours of Sunday morning after Corbyn informed Benn that he knew Benn had been constructing a coup against the Leadership during the run up to the vote to leave the European Union. Subsequently, the following resigned :
On 27 June:
On 29 June:
All cited concerns over the EU vote and Corbyn's leadership.
Lords leader Angela Smith of Basildon and Lords chief whip Steve Bassam stated they would boycott shadow cabinet meetings while Jeremy Corbyn remained leader. They remained members of the shadow cabinet as these positions are elected by the Labour members of the upper chamber. They returned to attending shadow cabinet four months later.

New appointments

Following the resignations, Corbyn appointed several new MPs to shadow cabinet positions:
Following his victory in the 2016 Labour Party leadership election, Jeremy Corbyn began a reshuffle of his cabinet on 7 October:
, who lost to Corbyn in the preceding leadership election, declined to continue in Shadow Cabinet, if offered. Angela Smith and Steve Bassam formally returned to Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Leader of the House of Lords and Shadow Chief Whip of the House of Lords after boycotting following the June reshuffle.

Resignations

On Thursday 19 January, Jeremy Corbyn was reported to be preparing to order Labour MPs to vote to support triggering Article 50 in the vote on the European Union Bill 2017, in line with a three-line whip. This triggered the following resignations from the frontbench :
On Thursday 26 January:
On Friday 27 January:
On Wednesday 1 February:
On Wednesday 8 February:
Following the 2017 general election, Corbyn began a reshuffle of his shadow cabinet:
On 14 June 2017:
Later that month, Corbyn sacked three shadow ministers and a fourth resigned. This was after they had rebelled against party orders to abstain in the vote on a motion that was proposed by the then Labour MP Chuka Umunna and was aimed at keeping the UK in the EU single market.

August 2017

was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, replacing Sarah Champion.

October 2017

was elected Leader of the European Parliamentary Labour Party, replacing Glenis Willmott and attending Shadow Cabinet meetings.

January 2018

was elected Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords, replacing Steve Bassam.

March 2018

, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, was sacked. She was replaced by Margaret Greenwood. Owen Smith, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, was sacked. He was replaced by Tony Lloyd.

December 2018

, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, resigned. She was replaced by Dan Carden.

January 2020

2020 post-election cabinet reshuffle

In the 2019 general election, a number of Shadow Ministers lost their seats; mostly to Boris Johnson's Conservatives. The following replacement appointments were made.
As Tom Watson stood down at the election, he was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport by Tracy Brabin.
Newcomer MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy was immediately appointed Shadow Minister for Immigration.

Positions without successors