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
Portfolio | Shadow Minister | Term |
Leader of the Opposition Leader of the Labour Party | Jeremy Corbyn | 2015–2020 |
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party | Tom Watson | 2015–2019 |
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party | Vacant | 2019–2020 |
Shadow First Secretary of State | Angela Eagle | 2015–2016 |
Shadow First Secretary of State | Vacant | 2016–2017 |
Shadow First Secretary of State | Emily Thornberry | 2017–2020 |
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer | John McDonnell | 2015–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Hilary Benn | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Emily Thornberry | 2016–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department | Andy Burnham | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department | Lyn Brown | 2017 |
Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department | Diane Abbott | 2016–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy | Angela Eagle | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy | Jon Trickett | 2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy | Clive Lewis | 2016–2017 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy | Rebecca Long-Bailey | 2017–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care | Heidi Alexander | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care | Diane Abbott | 2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care | Jonathan Ashworth | 2016–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Education | Lucy Powell | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Education | Pat Glass | 2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Education | Angela Rayner | 2016–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union | Emily Thornberry | 2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union | Keir Starmer | 2016–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice Shadow Lord Chancellor | The Lord Falconer of Thoroton | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice Shadow Lord Chancellor | Richard Burgon | 2016–2020 |
Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities | Kate Green | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities | Angela Rayner | 2016 |
Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities | Sarah Champion | 2016–2017 |
Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities | Dawn Butler | 2017–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for International Development | Diane Abbott | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for International Development | Kate Osamor | 2016–2018 |
Shadow Secretary of State for International Development | Dan Carden | 2018–2020 |
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords | The Baroness Smith of Basildon | 2015–2020 |
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons | Chris Bryant | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons | Paul Flynn | 2016 |
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons | Valerie Vaz | 2016–2020 |
Shadow Lord President of the Council | Jon Trickett | 2016–2020 |
Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office | Tom Watson | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office | Ian Lavery | 2016–2017 |
Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office | Jon Trickett | 2017–2020 |
Shadow Minister of State for the Cabinet Office Deputy Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office | Laura Smith | 2018 |
Shadow Minister of State for the Cabinet Office Deputy Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office | Jo Platt | 2018–2019 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | Owen Smith | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | Debbie Abrahams | 2016–2018 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | Margaret Greenwood | 2018–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Housing | John Healey | 2016–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government | Jon Trickett | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government | Grahame Morris | 2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government | Teresa Pearce | 2016–2017 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government | Andrew Gwynne | 2017–2020 |
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury | Seema Malhotra | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury | Rebecca Long-Bailey | 2016–2017 |
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury | Peter Dowd | 2017–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales | Nia Griffith | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales | Paul Flynn | 2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales | Jo Stevens | 2016–2017 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales | Christina Rees | 2017–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | Vernon Coaker | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | Dave Anderson | 2016–2017 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | Owen Smith | 2017–2018 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | Tony Lloyd | 2018–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland | Ian Murray | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland | Dave Anderson | 2016–2017 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland | Lesley Laird | 2017–2019 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland | Tony Lloyd | 2019–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport | Lilian Greenwood | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport | Andy McDonald | 2016–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence | Maria Eagle | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence | Emily Thornberry | 2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence | Clive Lewis | 2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence | Nia Griffith | 2016–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade Shadow Minister for International Climate Change | Barry Gardiner | 2016–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport | Michael Dugher | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport | Maria Eagle | 2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport | Kelvin Hopkins | 2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport | Tom Watson | 2016–2019 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport | Tracy Brabin | 2019–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Kerry McCarthy | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Rachael Maskell | 2016–2017 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Sue Hayman | 2017–2019 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Luke Pollard | 2019–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Employment Rights | Laura Pidcock | 2019 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Employment Rights | Rachel Maskell | 2019–2020 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change | Lisa Nandy | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change | Barry Gardiner | 2016 |
Shadow Attorney General | Catherine McKinnell | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Attorney General | Karl Turner | 2016 |
Shadow Attorney General | The Baroness Chakrabarti | 2016–2020 |
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Commons | Rosie Winterton | 2015–2016 |
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Commons | Nick Brown | 2016–2020 |
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords | The Lord Bassam of Brighton | 2015–2018 |
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords | Lord McAvoy | 2018–2020 |
Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Social Care | Luciana Berger | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Social Care | Barbara Keeley | 2016–2020 |
Shadow Minister for Young People and Voter Registration Shadow Minister for Voter Engagement and Youth Affairs | Gloria De Piero | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Minister for Young People and Voter Registration Shadow Minister for Voter Engagement and Youth Affairs | Cat Smith | 2016–2020 |
Shadow Minister without Portfolio | Jonathan Ashworth | 2015–2016 |
Shadow Minister without Portfolio | Andrew Gwynne | 2016–2017 |
Shadow Minister without Portfolio | Ian Lavery | 2017–2020 |
Chairman of the Labour Party | Tom Watson | 2015–2017 |
Chairman of the Labour Party | Ian Lavery | 2017–2020 |
Co–National Campaign Coordinator | Andrew 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:- Chris Leslie was replaced as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer by John McDonnell
- Yvette Cooper was replaced as Shadow Home Secretary by Andy Burnham
- Chuka Umunna was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by Angela Eagle; who was further appointed Shadow First Secretary of State, deputising at Prime Minister's Questions, a role that was filled by Hilary Benn in the previous Shadow Cabinet
- Rachel Reeves was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by Owen Smith, though she was on maternity leave at the time of her announcement and the brief had been filled by Stephen Timms since shortly after the general election, who himself rejected a junior role
- Tristram Hunt was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Education by Lucy Powell
- Emma Reynolds was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by Jon Trickett, who was also appointed to a new role as Shadow Minister for the Constitutional Convention
- Caroline Flint was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change by Lisa Nandy
- Mary Creagh was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for International Development by Diane Abbott
- Shabana Mahmood was replaced as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury by Seema Malhotra
- Liz Kendall resigned as Shadow Minister for Care and Older People ; a junior minister is yet to be announced
- Harriet Harman, who had previously announced she would step down from frontbench politics after nearly 30 years, was replaced as Deputy Leader by Tom Watson, who also replaced Powell as Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office
- Burnham was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Health by Heidi Alexander
- Vernon Coaker was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence by Maria Eagle
- Angela Eagle was replaced as Shadow Leader of the House of Commons by Chris Bryant
- Michael Dugher was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Transport by Lilian Greenwood
- Ivan Lewis, who stated he was willing to serve, was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by Coaker
- Owen Smith was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Wales by Nia Griffith
- Maria Eagle was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by Kerry McCarthy
- Bryant was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by Dugher
- Trickett was replaced as Shadow Minister without Portfolio by Jon Ashworth, not as a full member, like Trickett, but still attending Shadow Cabinet
- Gloria De Piero was replaced as Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities by Kate Green, but was appointed to a new role as Shadow Minister for Young People and Voter Registration with full Shadow Cabinet membership
- Luciana Berger was appointed to a new role as Shadow Minister for Mental Health with full Shadow Cabinet membership
- Willy Bach was replaced as Shadow Attorney General by Catherine McKinnell
- Roberta Blackman-Woods was replaced as Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning by John Healey, though Healey would be attending Shadow Cabinet, unlike Blackman-Woods
Composition
- In his inaugural Shadow Cabinet, 17 out of 31 members were women, making it the first frontbench team in British parliamentary history to comprise a female majority. Corbyn was criticised for giving what are traditionally seen as the top jobs to men, although he insisted that positions such as Education and Health Secretary were just as important.
- All members of Corbyn's first Shadow Cabinet previously voted in favour of the Marriage Act 2013.
January 2016 reshuffle
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 :- Heidi Alexander – Shadow Health Secretary
- Gloria De Piero – Shadow Minister for Young People and Voter Registration
- Ian Murray – Shadow Scottish Secretary
- Lilian Greenwood – Shadow Transport Secretary
- Lucy Powell – Shadow Education Secretary
- Kerry McCarthy – Shadow Environment Secretary
- Seema Malhotra – Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
- Vernon Coaker – Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary
- Charles Falconer – Shadow Justice Secretary
- Karl Turner – Shadow Attorney General
- Chris Bryant – Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
- Diana Johnson – Shadow Foreign and Commonwealth Minister
- Lisa Nandy – Shadow Energy Secretary
- Owen Smith – Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary
- Angela Eagle – Shadow First Secretary of State and Shadow Business Secretary
- John Healey – Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning
- Nia Griffith – Shadow Welsh Secretary
- Maria Eagle – Shadow Culture Secretary
- Kate Green – Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
- Luciana Berger – Shadow Minister for Mental Health
- Pat Glass – new Shadow Education Secretary
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:- Emily Thornberry – Shadow Foreign Secretary
- Diane Abbott – Shadow Health Secretary
- Pat Glass – Shadow Education Secretary
- Andy McDonald – Shadow Transport Secretary
- Clive Lewis – Shadow Defence Secretary
- Rebecca Long-Bailey – Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
- Kate Osamor – Shadow International Development Secretary
- Rachael Maskell – Shadow Environment Secretary
- Cat Smith – Shadow Minister for Voter Engagement and Youth Affairs
- Dave Anderson – Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary
- Dave Anderson – Shadow Scottish Secretary
- Richard Burgon – Shadow Justice Secretary
- Debbie Abrahams – Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary
- Grahame Morris – Shadow Communities Secretary
- Barry Gardiner – Shadow Energy Secretary
- Jon Trickett – Shadow Lord President of the Council
- Jon Trickett – Shadow Business Secretary
- Angela Rayner – Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
- Angela Rayner – Shadow Education Secretary
- Paul Flynn – Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
- Paul Flynn – Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
- Kelvin Hopkins – Shadow Culture Secretary
- Emily Thornberry – Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
- Barry Gardiner – Shadow International Trade Secretary
October 2016 reshuffle
- Leader of the Opposition – Jeremy Corbyn
- Deputy Leader and Shadow Culture Secretary – Tom Watson
- Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer – John McDonnell
- Shadow Foreign Secretary – Emily Thornberry
- Shadow Home Secretary – Diane Abbott
- Shadow Education Secretary – Angela Rayner
- Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary – Debbie Abrahams
- Shadow Health Secretary – Jonathan Ashworth
- Shadow Defence Secretary – Nia Griffith
- Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury – Rebecca Long-Bailey
- Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union – Keir Starmer
- Shadow Business Secretary – Clive Lewis
- Shadow International Trade Secretary – Barry Gardiner
- Shadow Transport Secretary – Andy McDonald
- Shadow Communities Secretary – Teresa Pearce
- Shadow Environment Secretary – Rachael Maskell
- Shadow Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor – Richard Burgon
- Shadow Lord President of the Council – Jon Trickett
- Shadow Attorney General – Shami Chakrabarti
- Shadow Scotland Secretary and Northern Ireland Secretary – Dave Anderson
- Shadow Wales Secretary – Jo Stevens
- Shadow Housing Secretary – John Healey
- Shadow Women and Equalities Minister – Sarah Champion
- Shadow Black and Minority Ethnic Communities Minister – Dawn Butler
- Shadow Voter Engagement and Youth Affairs Minister – Cat Smith
- Shadow Cabinet Office Minister – Ian Lavery
- Shadow Mental Health and Social Care Minister – Barbara Keeley
- Shadow Minister without Portfolio – Andrew Gwynne
- Shadow Leader of the House of Commons – Valerie Vaz
Summary of changes
- Tom Watson, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, was moved from Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office and replaced by Ian Lavery.
- Andy Burnham resigned as Shadow Home Secretary to focus on his 2017 bid for Mayor of Greater Manchester and was replaced by Diane Abbott. This made the first Labour frontbench where two of the Great Offices of State were held by women.
- Clive Lewis was moved from Shadow Secretary of State for Defence and was replaced by Nia Griffith.
- Lewis was given the newly merged Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to reflect the departmental changes at Whitehall. Jon Trickett, who had been Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, remained Shadow Lord President of the Council and Director of Campaigns and Elections. Barry Gardiner, who had been Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, remained Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade.
- Emily Thornberry remained Shadow Foreign Secretary, but was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union by Keir Starmer.
- Abbott was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Health by Jon Ashworth.
- Grahame Morris went on leave and was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Shadow Minister for the Constitutional Convention by Teresa Pearce.
- Kelvin Hopkins was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by Watson.
- John Healey, who had resigned as Shadow Secretary of State for Housing in the previous June reshuffle, returned and was promoted to Shadow Secretary of State for Housing.
- Paul Flynn retired from Shadow Cabinet and was replaced as Shadow Leader of the House of Commons by Valerie Vaz, and as Shadow Secretary of State for Wales by Jo Stevens.
- Shami Chakrabarti was ennobled and appointed as Shadow Attorney General, which had been vacant since Karl Turner's resignation in June.
- Rosie Winterton was replaced as Shadow Chief Whip of the House of Commons by Nick Brown.
- Barbara Keeley was appointed Shadow Minister for Mental Health, which had been vacant since Luciana Berger's resignation in June.
- Dawn Butler was appointed to a new post as Shadow Minister for Black and Minority Ethnic Communities.
- Ashworth was replaced as Shadow Minister without Portfolio by Andrew Gwynne.
February 2017 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:
- Tulip Siddiq – Shadow Minister for Early Years
- Jo Stevens – Shadow Welsh Secretary
- Dawn Butler – Shadow Minister for Diverse Communities
- Rachael Maskell – Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Clive Lewis – Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Replacements
- Clive Lewis was replaced by Rebecca Long-Bailey as Shadow Business Secretary
- * Rebecca Long-Bailey was replaced by Peter Dowd as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
- Rachel Maskell was replaced by Sue Hayman as Shadow Environment Secretary
- Jo Stevens was replaced by Christina Rees as Shadow Welsh Secretary
June 2017 reshuffles
On 14 June 2017:
- Emily Thornberry was appointed Shadow First Secretary of State;
- Owen Smith was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland;
- Andrew Gwynne was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government;
- Dawn Butler was appointed Shadow Minister for Diverse Communities;
- Lesley Laird was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland.
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.- Sue Hayman was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by Luke Pollard.
- Laura Pidcock was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Employment Rights by Rachael Maskell.
- Lesley Laird was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland by Tony Lloyd.
- Liz McInnes was replaced as Shadow Foreign Office Minister for South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Commonwealth by Afzal Khan.
- Jenny Chapman was replaced as Shadow Brexit Minister by Thangam Debbonaire.
- Jo Platt was replaced as Shadow Minister of State for the Cabinet Office by Cat Smith.
Newcomer MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy was immediately appointed Shadow Minister for Immigration.
Positions without successors
- Karen Lee was not replaced as Shadow Fire and Rescue Services Minister.
- David Drew was not replaced as Shadow Farming and Rural Communities Minister
- Sandy Martin was not replaced as Shadow Minister for Waste and Recycling.
- Danielle Rowley was not replaced as Shadow Minister for Shadow Minister for Climate Justice and Green Jobs.
- Paula Sherriff was not replaced as Shadow Minister for Social Care and Mental Health.
- Paul Sweeney was not replaced as Shadow Scotland Minister.