Jeremy Corbyn critics given top jobs as Keir Starmer completes Labour frontbench line-up
Keir Starmer with former leader Jeremy Corbyn.
2 min read
Keir Starmer has handed top jobs to some of Jeremy Corbyn's most prominent critics as he completed his first Labour frontbench line-up.
Jess Phillips, Wes Streeting and Conor McGinn were among those given shadow ministerial positions by the new Labour leader.
There were also jobs for Pat McFadden, Peter Kyle and Liz Kendall, all of whom spoke out against Mr Corbyn's leadership in recent years.
The appointments signifiy Sir Keir's determination to make a decisive break from his predecessor's five years in charge, which culminated in Labour's worst general election result in 85 years.
He said: "This is a new team that will take the Labour Party forward in a new era.
"Under my leadership, the Labour Party will be utterly focused on working in the national interest, rebuilding people’s trust in our party and winning the next election."
Birmingham Yardley MP Ms Phillips, who once famously said she would stab Mr Corbyn "in the front" rather than the back, becomes shadow domestic violence and safeguarding minister.
Mr McGinn, who resigned as a whip under Mr Corbyn, has been appointed shadow security minister.
Mr Streeting, the MP for Ilford North and a critic of the previous leader's failure to tackle anti-semitism in the Labour Party, becomes shadow exchequer secretary.
Also given a job in Shadow Chancellor's Anneliese Dodds's shadow Treasury team is leading Blairite Mr McFadden, who is the new shadow economic secretary.
Hove MP Mr Kyle becomes shadow victims and youth justice minister, while Ms Kendall - who was defeated by Mr Corbyn in the 2015 leadership contest - has been appointed shadow social care minister.
Meanwhile, new deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner has been appointed Shadow First Secretary of State, meaning she will stand in for Sir Keir at Prime Minister's Questions.
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