Kennedy Announces Shadow Cabinet
Charles Kennedy today announced the new Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet. The positions of Shadow Chancellor, Foreign Secretary and Home Affairs remain unaltered.
Steve Webb MP becomes Shadow Health Secretary. Ed Davey MP becomes Shadow Education Secretary. David Laws MP becomes Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary. Mike Moore MP becomes Shadow Defence Secretary. Norman Baker MP will combine Shadow Environment and Rural Affairs Secretary. Simon Hughes MP will become Shadow to the Office of Deputy Prime Minister.
Norman Lamb MP joins the Shadow Cabinet for the first time as Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary. Sarah Teather MP joins the Shadow Cabinet for the first time as Shadow Secretary for Communities and Local Government.
Tom Brake MP will become Shadow Transport Secretary. Andrew George MP becomes Shadow Secretary for International Development.
Additional appointments outside the Shadow Cabinet are; Chris Huhne MP as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury; Nick Clegg MP as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs; and David Heath MP as Shadow Leader of the House and Department for Constitutional affairs.
Commenting, Charles Kennedy said:
"I am delighted to confirm this new set of appointments, consisting of the parliamentary team which will take us forward into this new parliament.
"Following our excellent General Election result on the 5th of May we have brought together a superb team of individuals, combining experience with youth. I am confident that we will continue to provide a real alternative to the Labour government as the new parliamentary session gets underway."
A full list of all Shadow Cabinet appointments:
Leader
The Rt Hon. Charles Kennedy MP
Leader in the Lords
The Rt Hon. Lord McNally of Blackpool
Deputy Leader* and Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
The Rt Hon. Menzies Campbell MP
Shadow Chancellor
Vince Cable MP
Shadow Home Secretary
Mark Oaten MP
Shadow Health Secretary
Steve Webb MP
Shadow Education and Skills Secretary
Ed Davey MP
Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions
David Laws MP
Shadow Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Simon Hughes MP
Shadow Environment and Rural Affairs Secretary
Norman Baker MP
Shadow Defence Secretary
Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary
Norman Lamb MP
Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary
Don Foster MP
Shadow Transport Secretary
Tom Brake MP
Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
Shadow Scottish Secretary
John Thurso MP
Shadow Welsh Secretary and Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Lembit Opik MP
Spokesperson for Women & Older People
Shadow Secretary for Communities and Local Government
Chair of the Parliamentary Party*
Chief Whip*
Andrew Stunell MP
*Elected position subject to confirmation by the parliamentary party.
Lord Razzall, Chair of the Campaigns and Communications Committee, is also invited to attend Shadow Cabinet meetings by virtue of party office.
The number of Shadow Cabinet members has been reduced from 25 to 21.
Phil Willis MP, Malcolm Bruce MP, Paul Keetch MP, Paul Burstow MP have all asked to leave the Shadow Cabinet but will continue to play a prominent role in parliament and in the parliamentary party.
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