Jeremy Corbyn gives top jobs to John McDonnell and Andy Burnham
Monday, 14 September 2015
Jeremy Corbyn has named John McDonnell shadow chancellor and defeated leadership candidate Andy Burnham shadow home secretary.
Hilary Benn will be shadow foreign secretary in the new Labour leader's first shadow cabinet.
Lord Falconer will be shadow justice secretary, Angela Eagle will be shadow business secretary and Lewisham MP Heidi Alexander will oversee health.
Chuka Umunna said he was leaving the front bench by "mutual agreement".
Mary Creagh also joined a number of MPs from the previous shadow cabinet who opted to return to the backbenches.
Ms Eagle was also announced as shadow first secretary of state and will deputise for Mr Corbyn at Prime Minister's Questions.
Other confirmed appointments are:
- Seema Malhotra shadow chief secretary to the Treasury
- Diane Abbott shadow minister for international development
- Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Vernon Coaker
- Rosie Winterton to continue as chief whip
- Ian Murray to continue as shadow Scottish secretary.
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said Mr Corbyn has achieved part of his first goal as leader - to include people from the centre of the party, including well-known names.
But our correspondent added many MPs will find the appointment of Mr McDonnell - a key ally of Mr Corbyn on the left - "very hard to stomach", according to Reuters.
-- Saikat--