Ed Miliband Edward Samuel Miliband (born 24 December 1969) is a British politician who has served as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero since July 2024. He has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for D ...

became Leader of the Labour Party and

Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the Opposition (parliamentary), largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the ...

upon being elected to the former post on 25 September 2010. The election was triggered by

Gordon Brown James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010. Previously, he was Chancellor of the Ex ...

'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 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 Harriet Ruth Harman, Baroness Harman, (born 30 July 1950), is a British politician and solicitor who served as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Chair of the Labour Party (UK), Chair of the Labour Pa ...

announced a new shadow cabinet to last until the election of a new party leader in September 2015.

Shadow Cabinet from 2010 to 2015

Initial Shadow Cabinet

Miliband announced his first Shadow Cabinet on 8 October 2010 following the 2010 Shadow Cabinet elections. 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 The Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) is the parliamentary group of the Labour Party in the British House of Commons. The group comprises the Labour members of parliament as a collective body. Commentators on the British Constitution sometimes ...

. *

– Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party *

– Shadow Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and

Shadow Secretary of State for International Development The shadow cabinet minister for international development is the lead spokesperson for the United Kingdom's His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition, Official Opposition on issues related to international aid, most notably to the Third World. The shad ...

Alan Johnson Alan Arthur Johnson (born 17 May 1950) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Education and Skills from 2006 to 2007, Secretary of State for Health from 2007 to 2009, Home Secretary from 2009 to 2010, and Shadow Chancello ...

–

Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer The shadow chancellor of the exchequer in the British Parliamentary system is the member of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom), Shadow Cabinet who is responsible for shadowing the Chancellor of the Exchequer, chancellor of ...

Yvette Cooper Yvette Cooper (born 20 March 1969) is a British politician who has served as Home Secretary since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party (UK), Labour Party, Cooper has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), member of parliament (MP) for Po ...

–

Shadow Foreign Secretary The shadow secretary of state for foreign, Commonwealth and development affairs, commonly called the shadow foreign secretary, is a position within the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom), UK official opposition shadow cabinet th ...

and

Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities The shadow minister for women and equalities (previously shadow minister for women, shadow minister for women and equality, shadow secretary of state for women and equalities) is a position in the United Kingdom's Official Opposition (United Kin ...

Ed Balls Edward Michael Balls (born 25 February 1967) is a British former politician, broadcaster and economist. He served as Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families from 2007 to 2010, and as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2011 to ...

–

Shadow Home Secretary In British politics, the shadow home secretary (formally known as the shadow secretary of state for the home department) is the person within the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (UK), shadow cabinet who shadows the home secretary; this effecti ...

Rosie Winterton Rosalie Winterton, Baroness Winterton of Doncaster, (born 10 August 1958), is a British Labour Party politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Doncaster Central from 1997 to 2024. She served as a Deputy Speaker in the House of ...

– Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Commons *

Andy Burnham Andrew Murray Burnham (born 7 January 1970) is a British politician who has served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017 Greater Manchester mayoral election, 2017. He served in Gordon Brown's Brown ministry, Cabinet as Chief Secretary to th ...

–

Shadow Secretary of State for Education The shadow secretary of state for education, also called the shadow education secretary, is an office in the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom), Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet responsible for Official Opposition (United King ...

and Election Coordinator *

Sadiq Khan Sir Sadiq Aman Khan (, ; born 8 October 1970) is a British politician serving as Mayor of London since 2016. He was previously Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Tooting (UK Parliament constituency), Tooting ...

–

Shadow Lord Chancellor The shadow lord chancellor is a member of the United Kingdom, British Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom), Shadow Cabinet shadowing the Lord Chancellor, lord chancellor, an office which has existed since the Norman Conquest. Sinc ...

and

Shadow Secretary of State for Justice In British politics the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice is the member of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom), Shadow Cabinet who shadows the Secretary of State for Justice, an office which has existed since 2007. Prior ...

(with responsibility for political and constitutional reform) *

Liam Byrne Liam Dominic Byrne (born 2 October 1970) is a British Labour Party (UK), Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament for Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North, previously Birmingham Ho ...

–

Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions The Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is an office within British politics held by a member of His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition (United Kingdom), His Majesty's Loyal Opposition. The duty of the office holder is to scrutinise the ...

* John Denham –

Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills A shadow is a dark area on a surface where light from a light source is blocked by an object. In contrast, shade (shadow), shade occupies the three-dimensional volume behind an object with light in front of it. The cross section (geometry), cros ...

John Healey John Healey (born 13 February 1960) is a British politician who has served as Secretary of State for Defence since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party (UK), Labour Party, he has been the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parl ...

–

Shadow Secretary of State for Health A shadow is a dark area on a surface where light from a light source is blocked by an object. In contrast, shade occupies the three-dimensional volume behind an object with light in front of it. The cross-section of a shadow is a two-dimensional ...

Caroline Flint Caroline Louise Flint (born 20 September 1961) is a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Don Valley from 1997 to 2019. A member of the Labour Party, she attended the Cabinet as Minister for Housing and Planning in ...

– Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government * Jim Murphy –

Shadow Secretary of State for Defence The shadow secretary of state for defence is a member of the UK Shadow Cabinet responsible for the scrutiny of the secretary of state for defence and the department, the Ministry of Defence. The post is currently held by James Cartlidge. List ...

Meg Hillier Dame Margaret Olivia Hillier (born 14 February 1969), known as Meg Hillier, is a British Labour and Co-operative politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hackney South and Shoreditch since 2005. Hillier was a junior governm ...

– Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change *

Hilary Benn Hilary James Wedgwood Benn (born 26 November 1953) is a British politician who has served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland since 2024. A member of the Labour Party, he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds South, formerly ...

–

Shadow Leader of the House of Commons The Shadow Leader of the House of Commons is a member of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom), Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet responsible for working with the Leader of the House of Commons, Leader of the House in arrangi ...

and Shadow Lord Privy Seal *

Maria Eagle Maria Eagle (born 17 February 1961) is a British Labour Party (UK), Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Liverpool Garston, previously Garston and Halewood, since 1997 Unit ...

–

Shadow Secretary of State for Transport The shadow secretary of state for transport is a political post in the United Kingdom. It has been consistently held by a member of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom), Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet since May 1979. The sha ...

Mary Creagh Mary Helen Creagh (born 2 December 1967) is a British politician who has served as Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Coventry East since 2024, having previously served as MP for Wakefield (UK Parliament cons ...

– Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs * Angela Eagle –

Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury The shadow chief secretary to the treasury is the most junior member of the Shadow Cabinet, and is the deputy to the shadow chancellor of the exchequer. The shadow chief secretary to the treasury acts as the primary opposition to the equivalent ...

Shaun Woodward Shaun Anthony Woodward (born 26 October 1958) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 2007 to 2010. A former television researcher and producer, Woodward began his political career in the Conservativ ...

–

Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland The shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland is a member of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom), British Shadow Cabinet responsible for the scrutiny of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, secretary of state for ...

* Ann McKechin –

Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland The shadow secretary of state for Scotland is a member of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom), UK Shadow Cabinet responsible for the scrutiny of the Secretary of State for Scotland, secretary of state for Scotland and his/he ...

Peter Hain Peter Gerald Hain, Baron Hain, (born 16 February 1950), is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 2005 to 2007, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from 2007 to 2008 and twice as Secretary of State ...

–

Shadow Secretary of State for Wales The shadow secretary of state for Wales (or shadow Welsh secretary) is a member of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom), UK Shadow Cabinet responsible for the scrutiny of the secretary of state for Wales and their department, t ...

* Ivan Lewis – Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport * Janet Baroness Royall of Blaisdon – Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords *

–

Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office The Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office is a position on the Official Opposition frontbench attending the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom) , British Shadow Cabinet, appointed by the Leader of the Opposition. The post involv ...

Tessa Jowell Tessa Jane Helen Douglas Jowell, Baroness Jowell, (; 17 September 1947 – 12 May 2018) was a Labour Party (UK), British Labour Party politician and life peer who served as the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) f ...

–

Shadow Minister for the Olympics The Minister for the Olympics was a position within the United Kingdom Government created on 6 July 2005 as a result of the selection of London to host the 2012 Summer Olympics. It was merged into the position of Secretary of State for Culture, O ...

* Steve Lord Bassam of Brighton – Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords *

Patricia Scotland Patricia Janet Scotland, Baroness Scotland of Asthal, (born 19 August 1955), is a Dominican-British barrister and politician who served as the sixth Commonwealth Secretary-General, secretary-general of the Commonwealth of Nations from 2016 to ...

– Shadow Attorney General Also attending Shadow Cabinet meetings: *

Jon Trickett Jon Hedley Trickett (born 2 July 1950) is a British Labour Party (UK), Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Normanton and Hemsworth, previously Hemsworth (UK Parliament con ...

– Shadow Minister of State for the Cabinet Office

Subsequent changes

* 20 January 2011: Johnson resigned as Shadow Chancellor and was replaced by

, 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.

2011 reshuffle

On 7 October 2011, Miliband conducted a major reshuffle of his Shadow Cabinet. 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

, whose Education portfolio went to

Stephen Twigg Stephen Daniel Twigg (born 25 December 1966) is a British Labour Co-op politician who has served as the 8th Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association since August 2020. He served as Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Me ...

, 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 Chuka Harrison Umunna (; born 17 October 1978) is a British businessman and former politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Streatham from 2010 until 2019. A former member of the Labour Party, he was part of the Shadow Cabine ...

. 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 Margaret Patricia Curran, Baroness Curran (born 24 November 1958), is a Scottish Labour Party politician. She served in the House of Commons as the member of Parliament (MP) for Glasgow East from 2010 and 2015, and was Shadow Secretary of S ...

, 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 Rachel Jane Reeves (born 13 February 1979) is a British politician who has served as Chancellor of the Exchequer since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, she has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds West and Pudsey, formerly Leed ...

, 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 Patricia 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: Stewart Lord 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 The Cabinet Office is a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for supporting the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, prime minister and Cabinet ...

). Michael Dugher also became a Shadow Minister without Portfolio with the right to attend Shadow Cabinet meetings.

Liz Kendall Elizabeth Louise Kendall (born 11 June 1971) is a British politician who has served as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, she has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Leicester West sinc ...

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" as it previously had. 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";

Nick Clegg Sir Nicholas William Peter Clegg (born 7 January 1967) is a British retired politician and media executive who served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2015 and as Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 2007 to 2015. H ...

, the Deputy Prime Minister, was the Government minister with responsibility for political and constitutional reform. *

– Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party *

– 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 *

–

Douglas Alexander Douglas Garven Alexander (born 26 October 1967) is a British politician who has served as Minister of State for Trade Policy and Economic Security since 2024, having previously held the role from 2004 to 2005. He has also served as Minister o ...

–

and

–

and

– Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Commons *

–

* Jim Murphy –

– Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government * Angela Eagle –

–

– Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change *

– Shadow Minister for London and

–

and Policy Review Co-ordinator * Ivan Lewis –

– Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs *

–

* Tom Watson – Deputy Chair of the Labour Party and Campaign Coordinator * Vernon Coaker –

–

and Chair of the National Policy Forum * Janet Baroness Royall of Blaisdon – Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords * Steve Lord Bassam of Brighton – Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords Also attending Shadow Cabinet meetings: *

– Shadow Minister for Care and Older People * Michael Dugher – Shadow Minister without Portfolio * Emily Thornberry – Shadow Attorney General * Stewart Lord Wood of Anfield – Shadow Minister without Portfolio

Subsequent changes

* On 15 May 2012, following the resignation of Peter Hain as Shadow Welsh Secretary, Miliband conducted a mini-reshuffle:

Owen Smith Owen Smith (born 2 May 1970) is a British lobbyist and former Labour Party (UK), Labour Party politician. Smith was Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Pontypridd (UK Parliament constituency), Pontypridd from 2 ...

was appointed to replace Hain, while

Jon Cruddas Jonathan Cruddas (born 7 April 1962) is a British Labour Party politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Dagenham and Rainham, formerly Dagenham, between 2001 and 2024. Having been critical of many aspects of the Blair governm ...

replaced Liam Byrne as Policy Review Co-ordinator. * On 11 September 2012, Dame Tessa Jowell left the shadow cabinet, after saying she planned to retire from frontline politics.

2013 reshuffle

On 7 October 2013,

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,

and

moved respectively from Work and Pensions and from Education to junior shadow ministerial positions at Business and Education. Prominent promotions included

Tristram Hunt Tristram Julian William Hunt, (born 31 May 1974) is a British historian, broadcast journalist and former politician who has been Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum since 2017. He served as the Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Sto ...

to Education,

to Work and Pensions, Vernon Coaker to Defence, and

Chris Leslie Christopher Michael Leslie (born 28 June 1972) is a British business executive and former politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Shipley from 1997 to 2005 and Nottingham East from 2010 to 2019. A former member of the La ...

was appointed Chair of General Election Strategy and Planning. *

– Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party *

– 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 *

–

and Chair of the General Election Strategy and Planning *

–

and

–

and

– Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Commons *

–

* Vernon Coaker –

* Jim Murphy –

– Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government * Angela Eagle –

–

– Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change *

–

– Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs *

–

* Ivan Lewis –

–

* Gloria De Piero –

* Michael Dugher –

and Head of Communications *

– Shadow Minister without Portfolio and Deputy Party Chair * Janet Baroness Royall of Blaisdon – Shadow Leader of the House of Lords Also attending Shadow Cabinet meetings: *

Emma Reynolds Emma Elizabeth Reynolds (born 2 November 1977) is a British Labour Party (UK), Labour Party politician who has served as Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister since January 2025. She was elected as Member of Parliament (United Ki ...

– Shadow Minister for Housing *

– Shadow Minister for Care and Older People * Emily Thornberry – Shadow Attorney General *

– Chair of the Labour Party Policy Review * Stewart Lord Wood of Anfield – Shadow Minister without Portfolio * Steve Lord Bassam of Brighton – Labour Chief Whip in the House of Lords * Glenis Willmott – Leader of the EPLP

Subsequent changes

* On 2 November 2014, Jim Murphy resigned as Shadow International Development Secretary to campaign for the

leadership Leadership, is defined as the ability of an individual, group, or organization to "", influence, or guide other individuals, teams, or organizations. "Leadership" is a contested term. Specialist literature debates various viewpoints on the co ...

of the

Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour (), is the part of the UK Labour Party active in Scotland. Ideologically social democratic and unionist, it holds 23 of 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament and 37 of 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons. It is repres ...

. Subsequently, on 5 November, a number of changes to the composition of the shadow cabinet were announced: Shadow Transport Secretary

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 Lucy Maria Powell (born 10 October 1974) is a British politician who has served as Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council since July 2024. A member of the Labour and Co-operative parties, she has been the Member of Pa ...

. * On 20 November 2014, Emily Thornberry resigned as Shadow Attorney General following a backlash resulting from her sending of a controversial tweet. Willy Lord Bach was named as her replacement on 3 December.

References

External links

* {{UK Labour Party Ed Miliband Miliband 2010 establishments in the United Kingdom British shadow cabinets 2010 in British politics 2015 disestablishments in the United Kingdom

Shadow Cabinet from 2010 to 2015

Initial Shadow Cabinet

Subsequent changes

2011 reshuffle

Subsequent changes

2013 reshuffle

Subsequent changes

See also

References

External links