MPs in shadow cabinet roles
From West London to front benches
WEST London MPs have been appointed to Labour’s shadow cabinet.
Ealing Central and Acton MP Rupa Huq has been given the role of shadow minister for home affairs with the responsibility for crime prevention, including CCTV, DNA and drugs.
Dr Huq, whose team will be headed by new shadow home secretary Diane Abbott MP, said: “I am delighted to join the Labour front bench under Jeremy Corbyn and am looking forward to getting stuck in to my brief and taking the fight to the Tories.
“Despite my new role, my constituents can rest assured that I will still continue to hold my weekly advice surgeries, respond to all correspondence and be visible within Ealing Central and Acton.”
Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas has also been appointed the shadow minister for communities and local government.
Hammersmith Andy Slaughter MP is appointed shadow housing minister and shadow minister for London, despite quitting the front bench in June earlier this year.
And Brentford and Isleworth MP Ruth Cadbury also becomes shadow minister for housing.
Mr Thomas said: “I am pleased to join Teresa Pearce, Kate Hollern and Jim McMahon in the Shadow Department for Communities and Local Government team with responsibility for local government.
“I’m keen to play my part in supporting Labour councillors defending vital local public services from yet more funding cuts, like the brilliant council here in Harrow.
“I’m also keen to begin to explore what a new Labour vision for local government might look like; one that recognises the move, in a very British way, towards a more federal United Kingdom, which champions England’s talents in our cities, boroughs and counties, but which also gives local people more power to shape their communities in the way they think best.”
Mr Slaughter said: “The roles of Shadow Minister for Housing and Shadow Minister for London are very important, and I am pleased to have been asked to undertake them.
“I will be dealing with a range of issues affecting Londoners while working closely with the mayor Sadiq Khan’s office, with a particular focus on housing. We are facing a national housing crisis at present, which affects many of my constituents, who struggle with issues of affordability and availability.
“These roles provide me with an opportunity to oppose the government and set out Labour’s policy in these two crucial areas.”