Harriet Harman's second Shadow Cabinet was formed by Harriet Harman in 2015 during her second period as Acting Leader of the Labour Party. She assumed this role after Ed Miliband resigned as party leader (and Leader of the Opposition) and announced she would continue until a new leader was elected on 12 September 2015. Miliband's resignation followed the party's defeat at the 2015 general election.
Creation On 11 May 2015, Harman announced the make-up of her Shadow Cabinet. Most members of Miliband's last shadow cabinet continued in their roles with the following exceptions:
Ed Balls was defeated in his former Morley and Outwood constituency, so was replaced as Shadow Chancellor by Chris Leslie. Douglas Alexander was defeated in his former Paisley and Renfrewshire South constituency, so was replaced as Shadow Foreign Secretary by Hilary Benn Margaret Curran was defeated in her former Glasgow East constituency, so was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland by Ian Murray, the party's only remaining MP in Scotland. Shabana Mahmood replaced Leslie as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds replaced Benn as Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Chris Bryant became Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, a post previously held by Harman in addition to the deputy leadership. Sadiq Khan stepped down from the Shadow Cabinet, and was replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Shadow Lord Chancellor by Lord Falconer
Additionally, Benn was given responsibility for the despatch box during deputy PMQs against George Osborne in his role as First Secretary of State.
Harman's first shadow cabinet had been formed during a similar period as pro tempore leader following Gordon Brown's resignation following the 2010 general election.
Changes On 13 May 2015, Baroness Royall of Blaisdon announced that she would be stepping down as Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords. Baroness Smith of Basildon was elected unopposed as her successor by Labour peers on 27 May 2015, and thus took her place in the shadow cabinet.
In May 2015, Rachel Reeves went on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her second child. Stephen Timms became Acting Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
Members of the Shadow Cabinet PortfolioShadow Minister Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal OppositionActing Leader of the Labour PartyDeputy Leader of the Labour PartyChair of the Labour Party Harriet Harman Shadow First Secretary of StateShadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Chris Leslie Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper Shadow Secretary of State for JusticeShadow Lord Chancellor The Lord Falconer of Thoroton Shadow Chief Whip in the House of Commons Rosie Winterton Shadow Secretary of State for Health Andy Burnham Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Chuka Umunna Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Rachel Reeves Stephen Timms Shadow Secretary of State for Education Tristram Hunt Shadow Secretary of State for Defence Vernon Coaker Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Emma Reynolds Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Caroline Flint Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Angela Eagle Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Michael Dugher Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Ivan Lewis Shadow Secretary of State for International Development Mary Creagh Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Owen Smith Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Maria Eagle Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office Lucy Powell Shadow Minister without PortfolioDeputy Chair of the Labour Party Jon Trickett Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities Gloria De Piero Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Shabana Mahmood Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords The Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (to 27 May) The Baroness Smith of Basildon (from 27 May) Shadow Chief Whip in the House of Lords The Lord Bassam of Brighton Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Chris Bryant Also attends Shadow Cabinet meetings Shadow Minister for Care and Older People Liz Kendall Shadow Attorney General for England and Wales The Lord Bach
Sources: Parliament.uk Labour Shadow Cabinet
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