Kennedy Announces Shadow Cabinet

5.48.21pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 16th May 2005

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

Michael Moore MP

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

Andrew George MP

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

Sandra Gidley MP

Shadow Secretary for Communities and Local Government

Sarah Teather MP

Chair of the Parliamentary Party*

Matthew Taylor MP

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.