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Angela Evans Smith, Baroness Smith of Basildon is a British politician and life peer serving as Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords since 2015. A member of the Labour and Co-operative parties, she was Member of Parliament (MP) for Basildon from 1997 to 2010.
The Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet, or His Majesty’s Most Loyal Opposition Shadow Cabinet, but usually simply the Shadow Cabinet, is the committee of senior members of the Official Opposition who scrutinise the work of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. Each Shadow Cabinet member is typically given a position which corresponds to that of a government minister in Cabinet. Shadow Cabinet members, known as Shadow Ministers, are usually appointed by the Leader of the Opposition. The role of a Shadow Minister is to develop alternative policies, hold the government to account for its actions and responses, and act as spokespeople for the opposition party in their own specific policy areas. By convention, Shadow Ministers are either serving members of the House of Commons or the House of Lords, with most chosen from the former. Since May 2010, Labour has been the Official Opposition, and its leadership therefore forms the current Shadow Cabinet.
John Smith was Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Official Opposition from 18 July 1992 until his death on 12 May 1994. Smith became leader upon succeeding Neil Kinnock, who had resigned following the 1992 general election—for the fourth successive time, the Conservatives had won and Labour lost.
Neil Kinnock was Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition from 2 October 1983 to 18 July 1992. He convincingly defeated Roy Hattersley, Eric Heffer, and Peter Shore in the 1983 leadership election, which was prompted by Michael Foot's resignation following the disastrous general election result earlier that year. Kinnock's period as Leader encompassed the bulk of the Thatcher premiership and the first two years of the Major premiership. Kinnock resigned in 1992 after losing his second election as Leader.
Michael Foot was Leader of the Opposition from 4 November 1980, following his victory in the 1980 leadership election, to 2 October 1983, when he was replaced by Neil Kinnock at the 1983 leadership election. The 1980 leadership contest was triggered by James Callaghan's loss at the 1979 general election, and the 1983 contest by Foot's own disastrous defeat in the 1983 general election.
Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet took place on 4 December 1980, having been delayed due to the October election of new Party Leader Michael Foot. In addition to the 12 members elected, the Leader (Foot), Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party were automatically members.
Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in November 1952. In addition to the 12 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords were automatically members.
Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in 1953. In addition to the 12 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords were automatically members. All incumbent members of the Shadow Cabinet retained their seats.
Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in November 1958. In addition to the 12 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords, and Labour Chief Whip in the House of Lords were automatically members.
Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in November 1956. In addition to the 12 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords were automatically members.
Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in November 1957. In addition to the 12 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords were automatically members.
Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in November 1960. In addition to the 12 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords, and Labour Chief Whip in the House of Lords were automatically members.
Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in November 1989. For these elections the Shadow Cabinet was expanded from 15 to 18 seats and, for the first time, MPs had to cast at least three votes for women.
Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in November 1973. In addition to the 12 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Labour Leader in the House of Lords, and Labour Chief Whip in the Lords were automatically members. The Labour Lords elected one further member, Baron Champion.
Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in November 1972. In addition to the 12 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Labour Leader in the House of Lords, and Labour Chief Whip in the Lords were automatically members. The Labour Lords elected one further member, Baron Champion.
Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in December 1971. In addition to the 12 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Labour Leader in the House of Lords, and Labour Chief Whip in the Lords were automatically members. The Labour Lords elected one further member, Baron Champion.
Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in July 1970, following the party's defeat in the 1970 general election.
Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in November 1963. In addition to the 12 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords, and Labour Chief Whip in the House of Lords were automatically members.
Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in November 1962. In addition to the 12 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords, and Labour Chief Whip in the House of Lords were automatically members. The election saw no changes to the Shadow Cabinet.
Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in November 1961. In addition to the 12 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords, and Labour Chief Whip in the House of Lords were automatically members. The election saw no changes to the Shadow Cabinet.