David Lammy appointed as shadow justice secretary

Also joining new Labour leader Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet is Battersea MP Marsha de Cordova

APPOINTMENT: New shadow justice secretary David Lammy

TOTTENHAM MP David Lammy has been appointed as shadow justice secretary in new Labour leader Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet.

Lammy, a leading critic of the government over the Windrush Scandal, makes a return to frontbench politics after a ten year absence.

Elected as the MP for Tottenham in 2000, Lammy held ministerial posts under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Before entering politics he practised as a barrister in England and the US and became the first black Briton to study a Masters in Law at Harvard Law School, graduating in 1997.

NEW POSITION: Marsha de Cordova

As well as being a prominent voice on the Windrush Scandal Lammy has been at the forefront of the fight for justice for the Grenfell Tower families and has led a high-profile campaign calling on Oxbridge to improve access for students from under-represented backgrounds.

Writing about his appointment on Twitter he said: “It is a great honour to be appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, in these very challenging times. Thank you @Keir_Starmer for giving me the chance to serve.”

Speaking earlier about Keir Starmer’s election as the new party leader and Angela Rayner’s election as Deputy Leader Lammy said: “I am absolutely joyous, excited and ecstatic about this result. The election of Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner is fantastic news in very difficult times. Now let’s come together to provide the opposition and leadership the country needs.

New era

“In December I was heartbroken by the scale of Labour’s election defeat, for the millions of people we let down. Today is the start of a new era. With party unity and credible, persuasive, forensic leadership under Keir Starmer, we can begin winning back the country’s trust.”

Also elected to the shadow cabinet is Battersea MP Marsha de Cordova, who becomes shadow women and equalities secretary.

INCOMING PARTY LEADER: Keir Starmer

Prior to her current position, de Cordova was appointed as shadow minister for Disabled People in October 2017.

Speaking about her appointment de Cordova wrote on Twitter: “I am delighted to have been appointed Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary. It will be an honour to serve under @Keir_Starmer. I want to thank my fantastic friend and colleague @DawnButlerBrent for the important work that she has done on this brief.”

Disappointment

However, there was disappointment for party supporters who want to see a more diverse cabinet given Labour’s strong support from black and minority ethnic voters. 

Previous leader Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet has been described as the most diverse in Parliament’s history. 

Former head of communications for the Runneymede Trust and Labour party member Lester Holloway told The Voice: “I’m pleased to see David Lammy and Marsha de Cordova there but flabbergasted that Dawn Butler is out of the shadow cabinet despite performing so well at the deputy leadership hustings.

“The loss of Diane Abbott was sad if expected, but I’m shocked that Clive Lewis has also missed out despite coming up with so many ideas on issues like constitutional reform. Overall just two black members of the shadow cabinet is disappointing given the sky high loyalty of the black community. We’ll see if Keir Starmer takes race equality policy seriously.”

Comments Form

2 Comments

  1. | Jem

    Are black political politicians taken seriously by the political landscape in the UK Parliamentary system or are they polarised by tokenism and quotas

    Reply

  2. | Chaka Artwell

    They are not “taken seriously by the political landscape in the UK Parliamentary system;” and they all make extremely poor advocates for Her Majesty’s African Heritage Subjects.

    The Rt Hon David Lammy MP’s over promotion is due to the requirements of Political Correctness.

    Reply

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