The Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet


The Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell MP is currently putting together the Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet. We had some announcements on Monday and again earlier today so far the new team looks like:


Leader: Sir Menzies Campbell MP
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer: Vince Cable MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor: Simon Hughes MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport: Don Foster MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence: Nick Harvey MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Skills: Sarah Teather MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Chris Huhne MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Michael Moore MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Health: Steve Webb MP
Shadow Secretary of State for International Development: Susan Kramer MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland: Lembit Opik MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland: Jo Swinson MP
Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department: Nick Clegg MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry: Edward Davey MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport: Alistair Carmichael MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales: Lembit Opik MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: David Laws MP
Shadow Attorney General: Simon Hughes MP
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury: Julia Goldsworthy MP
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons: David Heath MP
Leader in the House of Lords: Lord (Tom) McNally
Lords Chief Whip: Lord (David Trevor) Shutt
Shadow Minister of Communities and Local Government: Andrew Stunell MP
Party Chair: Paul Holmes MP


We are still missing are Deputy Leader and Chief Whip. These posts are elected by the parliamentary party and so I imagine should be filled soon. I have heard two names mentioned with regard to Deputy Leader however I was surprised that Andrew Stunell MP was moved from Chief Whip. I am pleased with the new posts given to Chris Huhne MP, Michael Moore MP, Susan Kramer MP and Andrew Stunell MP. I worked with Andrew Stunell MP during the Hodge Hill by-election and was very pleased to get to know him I look forward to working with on the Liberal Democrat Devolution and Local Government Working Group.


I was surprised to find that Tom Brake MP, Jeremy Browne MP, Paul Burstow MP, and Matthew Taylor MP were not given posts in the shadow cabinet. I am disappointed to see that the shadow cabinet has lost Tom Brake MP. I hope that Danny Alexander MP, Tom Brake MP, Jeremy Browne MP, Paul Burstow MP, Lynne Featherstone MP, Evan Harris MP and Matthew Taylor MP are given senior non-shadow cabinet posts.


I am also disappointed to see that Norman Lamb MP has been made Chief of Staff I was hoping that he would have a more public role and that his talents would have been better use.


I also have a list of disappointed they are in the shadow cabinet and a list of 'Thanks God' they didn't get promoted.


I look forward to the election of the Liberal Democrats Deputy Leader and Chief Whip.