Second Shadow Cabinet of Harriet Harman

Harriet Harman's second Shadow Cabinet was formed by Harriet Harman in 2015 during her second period as Acting Leader of the Labour Party. She assumed this role after Ed Miliband resigned as party leader (and Leader of the Opposition) and announced she would continue until a new leader was elected on 12 September 2015.[1] Miliband's resignation followed the party's defeat at the 2015 general election.

Second Harman Shadow Cabinet

Shadow Cabinet of the United Kingdom
MaySeptember 2015
Date formed8 May 2015
Date dissolved12 September 2015
People and organisations
MonarchElizabeth II
Leader of the OppositionHarriet Harman
Shadow First SecretaryHilary Benn
Member party
  •   Labour Party
Status in legislatureOfficial Opposition
232 / 650 (36%)
History
Election2015 general election
Outgoing election2015 Labour Party leadership election
Legislature terms56th UK Parliament
PredecessorShadow Cabinet of Ed Miliband
SuccessorShadow Cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn

Creation

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On 11 May 2015, Harman announced the make-up of her Shadow Cabinet.[2] Most members of Miliband's last shadow cabinet continued in their roles with the following exceptions:

Additionally, Benn was given responsibility for the despatch box during deputy PMQs against George Osborne in his role as First Secretary of State.[3]

Harman's first shadow cabinet had been formed during a similar period as pro tempore leader following Gordon Brown's resignation following the 2010 general election.

Changes

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On 13 May 2015, Baroness Royall of Blaisdon announced that she would be stepping down as Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords.[4] Baroness Smith of Basildon was elected unopposed as her successor by Labour peers on 27 May 2015, and thus took her place in the shadow cabinet.[5]

In May 2015, Rachel Reeves went on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her second child. Stephen Timms became Acting Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Members of the Shadow Cabinet

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Portfolio Shadow Minister
Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition
Acting Leader of the Labour Party
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
Chair of the Labour Party
The Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC MP
Shadow First Secretary of State
Shadow Foreign Secretary
The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Chris Leslie MP
Shadow Home Secretary The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
Shadow Lord Chancellor
The Rt Hon The Lord Falconer of Thoroton PC QC
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 Emma Reynolds 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 Mary Creagh MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray 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 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 Shabana Mahmood MP
Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords The Rt Hon The Baroness Royall of Blaisdon PC (to 27 May)
The Rt Hon The Baroness Smith of Basildon PC (from 27 May)
Shadow Chief Whip in the House of Lords The Rt Hon The Lord Bassam of Brighton PC
Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Chris Bryant MP
Also attends Shadow Cabinet meetings
Shadow Minister for Care and Older People Liz Kendall MP
Shadow Attorney General for England and Wales The Rt Hon The Lord Bach PC

Sources: Parliament.uk Labour Shadow Cabinet

References

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  1. ^ "Labour leadership: Cooper and Burnham bids ahead of September election". BBC. 13 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Labour shadow cabinet reshuffle: Leslie replaces Ed Balls". BBC. 11 May 2015.
  3. ^ "George Osborne makes Prime Minister's Questions debut". BBC. 17 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Baroness Royall to step down as Labour leader in the Lords – LabourList". 13 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Baroness Smith of Basildon". UK Parliament.