All the party's MPs have been given spokespeople roles.
Interim Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has given all his 11 MPs roles in the party’s ‘commons team’ which replaces what they called their ‘shadow cabinet’ before the 2019 election.
As well as replacing Jo Swinson as leader, Davey will be the spokesperson on economy and social justice. Previously, he was billed as the ‘Shadow Chancellor’ and ‘Shadow minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’.
After Davey, the party’s announcement gives second billing to Christine Jardine, who will remain the party’s lead on the Home Office and Women and Equalities.
New MP for St Albans Daisy Cooper will take on Jardine’s brief of Justice. She also picks up Layla Moran’s old area – Culture, Media and Sport.
Moran, who has been talked of as a potential successor to Swinson as permanent leader, retains her responsibility for education.
Alistair Carmichael retains his roles on Brexit and while picking up responsibility for Foreign Affairs, which was previously former MP Chuka Umunna’s role.
Carmichael will also be the party’s chief whip and now its only whip – as the party has got rid of the position of deputy chief whip, previously held by Christine Jardine.
Wera Hobhouse retains responsibility for climate change and the environment. In March, she told Left Foot Forward that the UK should reach zero carbon “far before 2050”. The party manifesto eventually said it should reach the target by 2045.
Hobhouse’s responsibility for transport has been transferred to Munira Wilson, the new MP for Twickenham. Wilson will also lead on health, wellbeing and social care.
Former leader Tim Farron retains his housing, communities and local government and North of England briefs. He is party’s only MP in the North of England. He also picks up Food and Rural Affairs from Jane Dodds, who lost her seat.
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP Jamie Stone retains his responsibility for defence while losing the Scotland brief to Wendy Chamberlain, the new MP for North East Fife.
As the Liberal Democrats no longer have a Welsh MP, Chamberlain takes on responsibility for Wales as well as Scotland, Northern Ireland, political and constitutional reform and international development.
Richmond MP Sarah Olney will take on responsibility for business (off Ed Davey) and trade (off Chuka Umunna).
Meetings of the Liberal Democrat Commons Team will also be attended by their London Mayoral candidate Siobhan Benita, who is not an MP. She will be their London spokesperson.
The Liberal Democrats will hold a leadership election in the coming months and the new leader is likely to reshuffle their Commons team.
| Liberal Democrat Commons Team | |
| Ed Davey | Acting Leader, Economy and Social Justice |
| Christine Jardine | Home Office, Women and Equalities |
| Alistair Carmichael | Foreign Affairs and Brexit, Chief Whip |
| Wera Hobhouse | Climate Emergency, Energy and the Environment |
| Tim Farron | Housing, Local Government, Food and Rural Affairs, North of England |
| Layla Moran | Education |
| Munira Wilson | Health, Wellbeing & Social Care, Transport |
| Jamie Stone | Defence |
| Sarah Olney | Business and Trade |
| Daisy Cooper | Justice, Digital, Culture, Media and Sport |
| Wendy Chamberlain | Political & Constitutional Reform, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, International Development |
Joe Lo is a co-editor of Left Foot Forward
5 Responses to “Lib Dems downgrade their ‘Shadow Cabinet’ to a ‘Commons team’”
steve
And just when Remain Queen Jo Swinson was expecting to be buying new curtains for No. 10…
john zims
GE 2019 was a perfect storm for the Lib Dems but they still managed to go backwards.
But on the plus side they had a female leader.
Labour's Filthy Hospitals
Three taxis for the Liberal Democrat party. What a rabble of bell ends
Julia Gibb
The SNP taking Swinson’s seat was the highlight of a great night.
I only hope that some humility returns to this party…but I doubt it!
Tom Sacold
The Lib Dems got what they deserved.