Jeremy Corbyn announces new shadow cabinet amid calls for resignation
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been forced into a shadow cabinet reshuffle following a mass rebellion.
As the fallout from last week’s EU referendum result continues, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been forced to fight for his position after a huge backlash from his party.
However, Mr Corbyn said that although he regrets the resignations, he will stand in any new leadership election, before announcing his new shadow cabinet.
The new line-up includes bisexual MP Cat Smith, who will take over Shadow voter engagement and youth affairs.
Ms Smith is already seen as a rising star in the party after being elected in last year’s general election.
Diane Abbott – who has previously written for PinkNews about tackling HIV and AIDs across Africa – will now serve as Shadow health secretary.
The shake up comes amid accusations that Mr Corbyn’s attempts to persuade his supporters to ‘Remain’ in the European Union was ‘lacklustre’.
Less than twenty-fours after the result came in MP Dame Margaret Hodge and Ann Coffey revealed their plans to lead a vote of no confidence against Mr Corbyn.
This was followed by the shock sacking of shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn, in the early hours of Sunday, after he told the party’s leader that he had lost confidence in him.
Then came the mass resignations – the MP for Islington lost 12 of his shadow cabinet on Sunday and four shadow ministers on today, following the country’s decision to leave the EU last week.
Amongst those opting to abandon their positions was Chris Bryant, now former shadow leader of the House of Commons, who told Mr Corbyn he risked “breaking the Labour party” unless he resigned.
After wishing Londoners a ‘Happy Pride’ over the weekend, the leader also faced backlash from members of the party, as an LGBT activist heckled him as he arrived at the event.
