Town’s MP in return to front benches
ROCHDALE MP Tony Lloyd has joined the shadow cabinet, being named Northern Ireland Secretary.
The 68-year-old replaces Owen Smith, who was sacked after expressing his support for a second referendum on membership of the EU.
Mr Lloyd, who was elected to the Rochdale seat last year, was immediately named as his replacement.
Mr Lloyd said: “As we leave the European Union, ensuring there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is of paramount importance and this will be my number one priority.
“This is an incredibly important job, with a huge in-tray and I am looking forward to starting work.”
It marks a return to the front bench of Westminster politics for Traffordborn Mr Lloyd who previously served as MP for Stretford and then Manchester Central.
He was minister of state for foreign affairs for two years of Tony Blair’s first Labour government in 1997.
After stepping down as an MP in 2012 he served as Greater Manchester’s Police and Crime Commissioner and then as interim metro mayor for the region before losing out to Andy Burnham in being chosen as Labour’s candidate for the role.
He was re-elected to the House of Commons in 2017 after being named as the candidate for the Rochdale seat, when the incumbent Simon Danczuk was barred from standing due to an internal party investigation into his conduct.
He won the former swing seat with a hefty majority of nearly 15,000.
Mr Lloyd had, until his surprise promotion on Friday, been serving as a junior minister for housing - to which he was appointed in July of last year
Confirming the promotion Jeremy Corbyn said: “Tony is a highly experienced former Government minister who is committed to ensuring that peace in Northern Ireland is maintained and helping to steer the devolution deal back on track.”
Mr Smith remained defiant, saying he had been sacked for his views on the “damage” Brexit will do to the UK’s economy and the Good Friday Agreement.
He added: “Those views are shared by Labour members and supporters and I will continue to speak up for them and in the interest of our country.”
His sacking is particularly controversial within the Labour ranks given he unsuccessfully challenged Mr Corbyn for the leadership of the party in 2016.
He was received support from other MPs, including former leadership candidate Chuka Umunna, who want to see the party take a stronger stance against Brexit.