Westminster Diary

Matt Rodda

POLITICS is a team sport. Whether in Government or opposition, success comes from working together.

Last week, the leader of my party, Sir Keir Starmer, reshuffled his top team to ensure that the Labour Party is ready for every challenge ahead as we advance towards a General Election.

The new shadow cabinet is an exciting mix of experience, energy and enthusiasm drawing on all the regions and nations of the UK.

With Yvette Cooper and Pat McFadden now sitting at the top table, we bring in the experience of MPs who have served at Cabinet level in Government.

The inclusion of strong female voices such as Rachel Reeves, Shabana Mahmood, Bridget Philipson and Angela Rayner means our shadow cabinet now reflects even more the communities and the country we hope to represent.

I am particularly pleased that the South East’s very own Annaliese Dodds remains as our party chair, shining a light on the sleaze and scandal of the Government while also championing women and equalities as the Shadow Secretary of State.

And our Labour values – as a modern and outward looking party in which fairness, equality and social justice guide our endeavours – remain front and centre with David Lammy, Ed Miliband and Preet Kaur Gill making the case for an ethical and environmentally friendly foreign policy in which we commit our party and our country to supporting developing nations, tackling climate change, and taking our international aid responsibilities seriously.

Continuing as Labour’s shadow minister for Pensions, I look forward to working with Jonathan Ashworth and the Work and Pensions team to expose the cruelty of Universal Credit cuts and the scrapping of the pensions triple lock.

I know the country needs a Labour Government. After 11 years, the Conservatives have run out of steam and run out of ideas.

I am confident that as a united and determined party, focusing on the issues that we know matter most to the country, the Labour Party can form the next Government and bring about the changes we desperately need. Matt Rodda is the MP

for Reading East