Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom)

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The Official Loyal Opposition Shadow Cabinet (usually known simply as the 'Shadow Cabinet') is, in British parliamentary practice, senior members of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition who scrutinise their corresponding ministers in the Government, develop alternative policies, and hold the Government to account for its actions and responses. Since May 2010, the Labour Party has been Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, and its leadership therefore forms the current Shadow Cabinet.

Not all Opposition frontbenchers are members of the Shadow Cabinet, which is composed of the most senior Opposition Members (usually around 20).

The Leader of the Opposition, the Opposition Chief Whip and Opposition Deputy Chief Whip are the only Members of the Official Opposition to draw remuneration for their Opposition roles in addition to their salaries as Members of Parliament.

Members of the Shadow Cabinet

Ed Miliband reshuffled his Shadow Cabinet on 5 November 2014.

Portfolio Shadow Minister
Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition
Leader of the Labour Party
The Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
Chair of the Labour Party
Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC MP
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer The Rt Hon Ed Balls MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Chair of General Election Strategy
The Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP
Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP
Shadow Lord Chancellor
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
Shadow Minister for London
The Rt Hon Sadiq Khan MP
Shadow Chief Whip in the House of Commons The Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Health The Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Chuka Umunna MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Rachel Reeves MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Education Tristram Hunt MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence Vernon Coaker MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change The Rt Hon Caroline Flint MP
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Angela Eagle MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Michael Dugher MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Ivan Lewis MP
Shadow Secretary of State for International Development The Rt Hon Mary Creagh MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Margaret Curran MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Owen Smith MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Maria Eagle MP
Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office
Vice Chair of General Election Strategy
Lucy Powell MP
Shadow Minister without Portfolio
Deputy Chair of the Labour Party
Jon Trickett MP
Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities Gloria De Piero MP
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Chris Leslie MP
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords The Rt Hon Baroness Royall of Blaisdon PC
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords The Rt Hon Lord Bassam of Brighton PC
Also attends Shadow Cabinet meetings
Shadow Minister for Care and Older People Liz Kendall MP
Shadow Minister for Housing Emma Reynolds MP
Shadow Attorney General for England and Wales Lord Bach
Shadow Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office) Lord Wood of Anfield
Labour Party Policy Review Co-ordinator
Chairman of the Manifesto Group
Jon Cruddas MP

Sources: Parliament.uk Labour Shadow Cabinet

See also

External links