United Kingdom
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of the United Kingdom
Constitution Constitution Cabinet Manual Erskine May Taxation
The Crown British Monarchy Monarch Queen Elizabeth II Heir apparent The Prince of Wales Royal family Succession to the British throne Royal prerogative
Executive HM Government Prime Minister Theresa May Cabinet Current ministry Her Majesty's Civil Service Departments Executive agencies Public bodies Privy Council Crown-in-Council Queen Elizabeth II
Legislature Parliament (56th Parliament) Crown-in-Parliament Queen Elizabeth II House of Lords Lord Speaker The Lord Fowler House of Commons Speaker John Bercow Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition Shadow Cabinet Member of Parliament (MP) State Opening of Parliament Prime Minister's Questions Act of Parliament Acts of Parliament relating to the EU Statutory Instruments English law Reserved matters
Judiciary Supreme Court President The Baroness Hale of Richmond Deputy President The Lord Mance Judges of the Supreme Court Courts of the United Kingdom Courts of England and Wales Courts of Scotland Courts of Northern Ireland
Devolution Joint Ministerial Committee Legislative Consent Motion Scotland Government Parliament Act of the Scottish Parliament Scottish statutory instrument Scottish law Wales Government National Assembly Act of the National Assembly for Wales Welsh law Northern Ireland Executive Assembly Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly Northern Ireland law England Greater London Authority Executive Mayor Mayoral cabinet Assembly London Plan Combined Authorities Metro Mayors Cornwall Council
Administrative geography England Subdivisions of England Local government in England Scotland Subdivisions of Scotland Local government in Scotland Wales Local government in Wales Northern Ireland Local government in Northern Ireland
Elections Parliamentry constituencies Political parties Last election Next election Referendums
Foreign relations History Foreign policy UK and the United Nations Politics of the European Union Commonwealth of Nations
United Kingdom portal Other countries Atlas
v t e

Ed Miliband became Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition upon being elected to the former post on 25 September 2010. The election was triggered by Gordon Brown's resignation following the party's fall from power at the 2010 general election, which yielded a Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition. Miliband appointed his first Shadow Cabinet in October 2010, following the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet elections. These elections were the last such elections before they were abolished in 2011.

Miliband conducted two major reshuffles in 2011 and 2013, with a number of minor changes throughout his term.

Following the 2015 general election and Miliband's resignation, acting leader Harriet Harman announced a new shadow cabinet to last until the election of a new party leader in September 2015.

Shadow Cabinet from 2010 to 2015[edit]

Initial Shadow Cabinet[edit]

Miliband announced his first Shadow Cabinet on 8 October 2010 following the 2010 Shadow Cabinet elections.^[1] Under the party rules, as amended in 2010, the Shadow Cabinet comprised the Leader, the Deputy Leader, the Leader of the Labour Peers, the Chief Whips in both houses, and 19 MPs elected by the Parliamentary Labour Party.

• 
  Ed Miliband – Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party
  


• 
  Harriet Harman – Deputy Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition, Shadow Deputy Prime Minister, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party^[2]


• 
  Alan Johnson – Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
  


• 
  Yvette Cooper – Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
  


• 
  Ed Balls – Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department
  


• 
  Rosie Winterton – Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Commons
  


• 
  Andy Burnham – Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Election Coordinator
  


• 
  Sadiq Khan – Shadow Lord Chancellor and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice (with responsibility for political and constitutional reform)


• 
  Liam Byrne – Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
  


• 
  John Denham – Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
  


• 
  John Healey – Shadow Secretary of State for Health
  


• 
  Caroline Flint – Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
  


• 
  Jim Murphy – Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
  


• 
  Meg Hillier – Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
  


• 
  Hilary Benn – Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and Shadow Lord Privy Seal
  


• 
  Maria Eagle – Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
  


• 
  Mary Creagh – Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
  


• 
  Angela Eagle – Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
  


• 
  Shaun Woodward – Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
  


• 
  Ann McKechin – Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
  


• 
  Peter Hain – Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
  


• 
  Ivan Lewis – Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
  


• 
  Baroness Royall of Blaisdon – Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords
  


• 
  Liam Byrne – Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office
  


• 
  Tessa Jowell – Shadow Minister for the Olympics
  


• 
  Baron Bassam of Brighton – Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords
  


• 
  Baroness Scotland of Asthal – Shadow Attorney General
  

Also attending Shadow Cabinet meetings:

• 
  Jon Trickett – Shadow Minister of State for the Cabinet Office
  

Subsequent changes[edit]

• 20 January 2011: Johnson resigned as Shadow Chancellor and was replaced by Ed Balls, who was replaced by Cooper as Shadow Home Secretary. She (while remaining Shadow Equalities Minister) was succeeded as Shadow Foreign Secretary by Alexander, whom Byrne replaced as Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary. Jowell took Byrne's role as Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, while retaining her role as Shadow Olympics Minister.^[3]

2011 reshuffle[edit]

On 7 October 2011, Miliband conducted a major reshuffle of his Shadow Cabinet.^[4] This followed the Labour Party Conference at which delegates voted to allow the party leader to choose the membership of the Shadow Cabinet, eliminating elections by MPs. Healey chose to stand down from frontline politics and was replaced as Shadow Health Secretary by Andy Burnham, whose Education portfolio went to Stephen Twigg, a newcomer to the Shadow Cabinet, and whose responsibilities as Election Co-ordinator went to Tom Watson, also new to the Shadow Cabinet and who also was given the title "Deputy Chair of the Labour Party". Denham chose to stand down from the Business portfolio, becoming Miliband's Parliamentary Private Secretary. He was replaced by new Shadow Minister of State for Small Business, Chuka Umunna.

Harman and Lewis swapped substantive portfolios (International Development to Lewis and Culture to Harman). Trickett took primary responsibility for shadowing the Cabinet Office from Jowell. The latter retained her position in the Shadow Cabinet as well as her roles as Shadow Minister for London and for the Olympics. Woodward (Northern Ireland) and McKechin (Scotland) were both left out of the Shadow Cabinet, being replaced by newcomers: Vernon Coaker and Margaret Curran, respectively.

Hillier left the Shadow Cabinet, and was replaced at the Energy portfolio by Flint. She was in turn replaced at Communities and Local Government by Benn, whose role as Shadow Leader of the House went to Angela Eagle. She was replaced as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury by Rachel Reeves, who was new to the Shadow Cabinet. Hain retained his responsibilities and was named Chair of the National Policy Forum. Byrne likewise retained his portfolio and added "Policy Review Co-ordinator", reflecting work he had already taken on.

Additionally, Emily Thornberry replaced Baroness Scotland as Shadow Attorney General, with the right to attend Shadow Cabinet, but not full membership. Three others obtained the right to attend Shadow Cabinet: Baron Wood of Anfield retained his role as a Shadow Minister without Portfolio on the Shadow Cabinet Office team (i.e., the Opposition equivalent of the Cabinet Office). Michael Dugher also became a Shadow Minister without Portfolio with the right to attend Shadow Cabinet meetings. Liz Kendall was appointed Shadow Minister for Care and Older People with the right to attend Shadow Cabinet.

Finally, the Shadow Cabinet list announced on the day of the reshuffle did not note Khan, the Shadow Justice Secretary, as having "responsibility for political and constitutional reform"^[5] as it previously had.^[6] It is not clear whether he retained this responsibility or it transferred to Harman, whose title has been listed as "Shadow Deputy Prime Minister" instead of "Deputy Leader of the Opposition";^[6][7]Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, was the Government minister with responsibility for political and constitutional reform.

• 
  Ed Miliband – Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party
  


• 
  Harriet Harman – Shadow Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Labour Party Chair
  


• 
  Ed Balls – Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
  


• 
  Douglas Alexander – Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
  


• 
  Yvette Cooper – Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department and Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
  


• 
  Sadiq Khan – Shadow Lord Chancellor and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
  


• 
  Rosie Winterton – Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Commons
  


• 
  Andy Burnham – Shadow Secretary of State for Health
  


• 
  Stephen Twigg – Shadow Secretary of State for Education
  


• 
  Chuka Umunna – Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
  


• 
  Jim Murphy – Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
  


• 
  Hilary Benn – Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
  


• 
  Angela Eagle – Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
  


• 
  Rachel Reeves – Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
  


• 
  Caroline Flint – Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
  


• 
  Tessa Jowell – Shadow Minister for London and Shadow Minister for the Olympics
  


• 
  Maria Eagle – Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
  


• 
  Liam Byrne – Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Policy Review Co-ordinator


• 
  Ivan Lewis – Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
  


• 
  Mary Creagh – Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
  


• 
  Jon Trickett – Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office
  


• 
  Tom Watson – Deputy Chair of the Labour Party and Campaign Coordinator
  


• 
  Vernon Coaker – Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
  


• 
  Margaret Curran – Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
  


• 
  Peter Hain – Shadow Secretary of State for Wales and Chair of the National Policy Forum


• 
  Baroness Royall of Blaisdon – Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords
  


• 
  Baron Bassam of Brighton – Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords
  

Also attending Shadow Cabinet meetings:

• 
  Liz Kendall – Shadow Minister for Care and Older People


• 
  Michael Dugher – Shadow Minister without Portfolio
  


• 
  Emily Thornberry – Shadow Attorney General
  


• 
  Baron Wood of Anfield – Shadow Minister without Portfolio
  

Subsequent changes[edit]

• On 15 May 2012, following the resignation of Peter Hain as Shadow Welsh Secretary, Miliband conducted a mini-reshuffle: Owen Smith was appointed to replace Hain, while Jon Cruddas replaced Liam Byrne as Policy Review Co-ordinator.^[8]


• On 11 September 2012, Dame Tessa Jowell left the shadow cabinet, after saying she planned to retire from frontline politics.^[9]

2013 reshuffle[edit]

On 7 October 2013, Ed Miliband carried out a reshuffle of his front bench team. The moves included demotions of prominent Blairites including Jim Murphy, who went from Defence to International Development, and Ivan Lewis who moved from International Development to the shadow Northern Ireland portfolio. Also, Liam Byrne and Stephen Twigg moved respectively from Work and Pensions and from Education to junior shadow ministerial positions at Business and Education. Prominent promotions included Tristram Hunt to Education, Rachel Reeves to Work and Pensions, Vernon Coaker to Defence, and Chris Leslie to Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Douglas Alexander was appointed Chair of General Election Strategy and Planning.

• 
  Ed Miliband – Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party
  


• 
  Harriet Harman – Shadow Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Labour Party Chair
  


• 
  Ed Balls – Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
  


• 
  Douglas Alexander – Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Chair of the General Election Strategy and Planning


• 
  Yvette Cooper – Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department and Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
  


• 
  Sadiq Khan – Shadow Lord Chancellor and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
  


• 
  Rosie Winterton – Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Commons
  


• 
  Andy Burnham – Shadow Secretary of State for Health
  


• 
  Tristram Hunt – Shadow Secretary of State for Education
  


• 
  Chuka Umunna – Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
  


• 
  Vernon Coaker – Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
  


• 
  Jim Murphy – Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
  


• 
  Hilary Benn – Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
  


• 
  Angela Eagle – Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
  


• 
  Rachel Reeves – Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
  


• 
  Caroline Flint – Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
  


• 
  Mary Creagh – Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
  


• 
  Maria Eagle – Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
  


• 
  Chris Leslie – Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
  


• 
  Margaret Curran – Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
  


• 
  Ivan Lewis – Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
  


• 
  Owen Smith – Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
  


• 
  Gloria De Piero – Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
  


• 
  Michael Dugher – Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office and Head of Communications


• 
  Jon Trickett – Shadow Minister without Portfolio and Deputy Party Chair


• 
  Baroness Royall of Blaisdon – Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
  

Also attending Shadow Cabinet meetings:

• 
  Emma Reynolds – Shadow Minister for Housing


• 
  Liz Kendall – Shadow Minister for Care and Older People


• 
  Emily Thornberry – Shadow Attorney General
  


• 
  Jon Cruddas – Chair of the Labour Party Policy Review


• 
  Baron Wood of Anfield – Shadow Minister without Portfolio
  


• 
  Baron Bassam of Brighton – Labour Chief Whip in the House of Lords

Subsequent changes[edit]

• On 2 November 2014, Jim Murphy resigned as Shadow International Development Secretary to campaign for the leadership of the Scottish Labour Party.^[10] Subsequently, on 5 November, a number of changes to the composition of the shadow cabinet were announced: Shadow Transport Secretary Mary Creagh replaced Murphy at International Development, who was replaced by Michael Dugher, hitherto the Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office; he was in turn replaced by Lucy Powell.^[11]


• On 20 November 2014, Emily Thornberry resigned as Shadow Attorney General following a backlash resulting from her sending of a controversial tweet.^[12]Baron Bach was named as her replacement on 3 December.^[13]

See also[edit]

• Official Opposition (United Kingdom)


• Official Opposition frontbench


• Cabinet of the United Kingdom


• British Government frontbench


• Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team


• Labour Party Shadow Cabinet election, 2010

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• 
  "Her Majesty's Official Opposition". House of Commons Information Office.