Corbyn ignores ‘hot air’ slur and names Smith in shadow cabinet

JEREMY CORBYN has appointed Owen Smith, who once denounced the leader’s views as “hot air”, as the shadow Northern Ireland secretary.

Mr Smith, who was beaten by Mr Corbyn in a fierce leadership contest, has a deep understanding of the peace process after working as an adviser to former Labour Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy. Mr Corbyn made other appointments to fill vacancies in his shadow cabinet, including campaign co-ordinator Ian Lavery as party chair and new MP Lesley Laird as shadow Scottish secretary. The reshuffle demonstrates a shift in Mr Corbyn’s strategy of hiring close supporters, though he made only minor changes in an attempt to show loyalty to the team that supported him through the election. Former big-beasts like Chuka Umunna and Yvette Cooper could be welcomed back in policy-making roles, sources have said.