Angela Eagle and Stephen Twigg in shadow cabinet
Angela Eagle, the only out lesbian Labour MP, has been handed the job of shadow leader of the House of Commons.
The Wallasey MP was moved from shadow chief secretary to the Treasury in today’s reshuffle.
She replaces veteran Hillary Benn, who was appointed as shadow secretary of state for communities and local government.
Openly gay MP Stephen Twigg has become shadow education secretary, having served as minister of state for schools between 2004 and 2005.
The Liverpool West Derby MP, who was a shadow foreign minister, replaces Andy Burnham, who moves to the health brief, shadowing the role he had in the last government.
The changes mean that the Labour shadow cabinet now has two openly gay figures.
Yvette Cooper, the MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford, will retain her role as shadow home secretary and shadow minister for women and equalities.
Labour leader Ed Miliband announced the changes today.
This is the first time a Labour leader has had full control over his shadow cabinet appointments. Previously while in opposition, positions were elected by a ballot of the party’s MPs.
