Emily Thornberry ‘sorry and surprised’ not to be given cabinet role by Starmer
The ex-shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry expressed her disappointment and shock at not being chosen for a position in the new Labour cabinet. She said she was sorry and surprised by Keir Starmer's decision to appoint human rights barrister Richard Hermer instead.
Thornberry, an experienced member of the shadow cabinet during both Starmer and Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, was thought to receive another position. However, she has not yet been given one.
Thornberry announced her departure from the cabinet after serving for eight and a half years, longer than anyone else. She stated that she constantly strived to maintain unity within the Labour party.
She expressed her support for the new cabinet and praised Hermer as a superior lawyer. Despite her personal disappointment, she acknowledged the incredible and historic victory and promised her unwavering loyalty to Starmer.
She made her announcement in the midst of several new hiring decisions made by the prime minister. One of these appointments was Peter Hendy as the transport minister. Hendy, who previously served as the chair of Network Rail and as the head of Transport for London (TfL), was also a crossbench peer.
The Labour party is proposing to bring the railway system back under state ownership and to implement bus franchising, which would allow local areas to have more control over bus routes, similar to the system used by Transport for London.
Anneliese Dodds, who previously served as party chair, has been officially appointed as development minister and will be responsible for overseeing the women and equalities portfolio. She will also be a member of the cabinet. However, this decision means that the party will not have a specific secretary of state dedicated to women and equalities, despite previous assurances.
Bridget Phillipson, who serves as education secretary, also accepted the role of women and equalities minister as required by constitutional regulations. This position must be filled by a cabinet minister who is devoted to it full-time.
Furthermore, Spencer Livermore, an important strategist for the Labour Party during Tony Blair's time in office, has been chosen to serve as the financial secretary to the Treasury.
The recent changes in ministerial positions showed a change in who holds certain roles. Stephen Kinnock, who previously was in charge of immigration policies in the opposition party, is now a minister in the Department of Health and Social Care. Angela Eagle, who served as a minister during Tony Blair's time in office, is now a minister at the Home Office.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, who was originally chosen by Starmer to be the shadow home secretary, is now the paymaster general. This role was previously held by Jonathan Ashworth before he lost his seat in the election. Additionally, Thomas-Symonds has taken on the responsibility of managing relations with EU countries.
Diana Johnson, who previously led the home affairs select committee, is now serving as a minister in the Home Office. Heidi Alexander, a Labour MP who took a break from parliament to work as a deputy mayor of London under Sadiq Khan, has been named as a minister in charge of justice.
Catherine McKinnell, who also leads a select committee, was appointed as a minister for education. Chris Bryant was given the role of minister for science and culture. Alison McGovern, who filled in for Liz Kendall when she was on leave, was made a minister in the work and pensions department along with Stephen Timms.
