Desperate Corbyn brings rebels and Blairites back to cabinet in bid to heal rift
JEREMY Corbyn has announced the appointment of 20 shadow ministers to the Labour front bench.
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After a successful General Election campaign, the Labour leader branded his party "a government in waiting" as he hailed the "wealth of talent" in his new-look shadow cabinet.
Just days after bringing back Owen Smith, a renowned critic of the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn has filled his shadow cabinet with a host of former rebels in a bid to unite the party.
A number of those who quit after Mr Corbyn sacked Hillary Benn last year have returned to the front bench.
Corbyn's new shadow cabinet is beginning to take shape
Those returning to the front bench are Gloria de Piero, who formerly worked under Ed Miliband when he was the Labour leader.
Roberta Blackman Woods, another staunch critic of the 68-year-old party leader, returns to the Labour front bench to work in International Development.
Tracy Brabin, who took over from the murdered MP Jo Cox in 2016, becomes a spokesperson on education.
Meanwhile, Tony Lloyd - a former minister under Tony Blair and the ex- police commissioner in Manchester - returns to the front bench to work in housing - with more details on the Grenfell Tower expected this afternoon.
Owen Smith recently returned to the shadow Cabinet - despite previous opposition to Corbyn
Commenting on the appointments, Mr Corbyn said: “I’m delighted to be filling Labour’s shadow front bench with a wealth of talent. Our new shadow ministers will bolster the excellent work of Labour’s shadow cabinet and departmental teams.
“These appointments are further evidence that Labour is not just the opposition – we are the government in waiting.”
Here is the list in full:
Environment
David Drew
Holly Lynch
Home Affairs
Nick Thomas Symonds
Chris Williamson
Afzal Khan
Louise Haigh
Scotland
Paul Sweeney
Justice
Gloria De Piero
Imran Hussain
International Development
Roberta Blackman Woods
Transport
Rachael Maskell
Karl Turner
Treasury
Anneliese Dodds
Housing
Tony Lloyd
Melanie Onn
Women and equalities
Carolyn Harris
Defence
Gerald Jones
Local Government
Yvonne Fovargue
Education
Tracy Brabin
Wales
Chris Ruane