Keir Starmer has been brought back into Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet as shadow Brexit secretary just four months after he quit in the wake of the Brexit vote in June.
The move to appoint the Holborn and St Pancras MP to the role is being seen as an attempt by Corbyn to bring on board one of the major moderate figures in the party.
Mr Corbyn said: “Keir brings vital experience to this role at what is a crucial time for Britain.”
The Labour leader has so far been resistant to calls from former shadow cabinet members for the body’s membership to be decided by a ballot of MPs.
But the appointment of Mr Starmer, 54, may be a signal from Mr Corbyn that he wants to reach out to critics on the back benches - while those who have previously expressed a lack of confidence in him show they are prepared to return after his landslide re-election by the membership.
Barrister Mr Starmer, the former head of the Crown Prosecution Service, has himself been described as a possible future leader of the party.
Mr Starmer tweeted tonight: “Delighted to be appoint to @UKLabour Shadow Brexit role: we must hold govt closely to account on this crucial issue.”
Hampstead and Kilburn MP Tulip Siddiq tweeted: “Congratulations to my good friend and fellow Camden MP @Keir_Starmer as shadow Brexit. Can’t think of anyone better for this crucial role.”
While Camden council leader Sarah Hayward said: “Contratulations to @keir Stermer. THe most imoprtant brief to hold government to account on right now.”
Other key appointments include Brent Central MP Dawn Butler who is to become shadow minister for black and minority ethnic communities and Shami Chakrabarti, the former Liberty director who carried out a controversial investigation into anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, is to be the new shadow attorney general.
Mr Corbyn also handed a major promotion to his long-time ally, Hackney North & Stoke Newington MP Diane Abbott, making her shadow home secretary,
Mr Corbyn said: “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dawn to my shadow cabinet. I am very proud that the Labour Party now has five MPs in our shadow cabinet from the BAME community - the highest number ever in any cabinet or shadow cabinet.”
More reaction to come during the day.
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