Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union

Last updated

Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer Official Portrait (cropped 2).jpg
The Current Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is the last holder of the position
StatusAbolished
Appointer Leader of the Opposition
Inaugural holder Emily Thornberry
Formation20 July 2016 (2016-07-20)
Final holder Keir Starmer
Abolished4 April 2020
Website The Shadow Cabinet

In British politics, the Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, or informally Shadow Brexit Secretary, [1] was a position within the opposition's shadow cabinet that dealt with issues surrounding the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. The position was only ever a part of Jeremy Corbyn's Shadow Cabinet between 2016 and 2020. If Corbyn had led Labour to an electoral victory, the shadow Secretary of State would have been a likely choice to serve as the new Secretary of State.

Contents

Keir Starmer held the position between October 2016 and April 2020, although the position became unusual, as the Department for Exiting the European Union was abolished on 31 January 2020, so there was no Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union to shadow. The shadow Brexit secretary's position was formally abolished on 4 April 2020, following Starmer's election as leader of the Labour Party.

During the period when this position existed, several shadow ministers for Brexit also served in the opposition's shadow cabinet and often deputised for the Shadow Secretary of State.

List of Shadow Secretaries of State for Exiting the European Union

NamePortraitTerm of officePolitical partyLeader
Emily Thornberry Official portrait of Emily Thornberry crop 2.jpg 20 July 20166 October 2016 Labour Jeremy Corbyn
Keir Starmer Prime Minister Keir Starmer Portrait (cropped).jpg 6 October 20164 April 2020

List of Shadow Ministers for Exiting the European Union

Three shadow ministers were appointed by Jeremy Corbyn in October 2016. Matthew Pennycook resigned in September 2019 in order to attempt to stop Brexit. [2] Jenny Chapman was one of the Red Wall MPs to be defeated in Boris Johnson's landslide victory in the 2019 general election, losing her seat of Darlington, County Durham to the Conservative candidate Peter Gibson. [3] Chapman was replaced by Thangam Debbonaire in January 2020. The position was abolished when Keir Starmer was elected Labour Leader in April 2020.

NamePortraitTerm of officePolitical partyLeader
Jenny Chapman Official portrait of Baroness Chapman of Darlington crop 2, 2021.jpg 9 October 2016 [4] 6 November 2019 Labour Jeremy Corbyn
Matthew Pennycook Official portrait of Matthew Pennycook MP crop 2.jpg 9 October 2016 [4] 25 September 2019 [2]
Paul Blomfield Official portrait of Paul Blomfield crop 2.jpg 9 October 2016 [4] 4 April 2020
Thangam Debbonaire Official portrait of Thangam Debbonaire MP crop 2.jpg 7 January 2020 [5] 4 April 2020

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References

  1. ↑ "Who's who in the Labour shadow cabinet?". New Statesman. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Shadow Brexit Minister quits to 'focus efforts' on Remain campaigning". Evening Standard. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  3. ↑ Brown, Mike (13 December 2019). "General Election: Tories gain Darlington for first time since 92". gazettelive. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 "Corbyn appoints 21 frontbenchers". LabourList. 9 October 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  5. ↑ Rogers, Alexandra (7 January 2020). "A Bristol MP has been promoted to the Labour front bench". bristolpost. Retrieved 9 April 2020.


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