Keir Starmer assumed the position of Leader of the Opposition after being elected as leader of the Labour Party on 4 April 2020; the election was triggered by Jeremy Corbyn's resignation following the Labour Party's electoral defeat at the 2019 general election when Boris Johnson formed a majority Conservative government. Starmer appointed his Shadow cabinet on 5 and 6 April. He reshuffled his Shadow Cabinet five times: in June 2020, May 2021, June 2021, November 2021 and 2023.
His Shadow Cabinet appointments included MPs associated with the various wings of the party. Angela Rayner was appointed deputy labour leader and shadow deputy prime minister, while Rachel Reeves and Yvette Cooper were appointed as shadow chancellor and Shadow Home Secretary, respectively. Former Labour leader Ed Miliband was appointed shadow energy and climate secretary. Other notable appointments included David Lammy as Shadow Foreign Secretary and Wes Streeting as shadow health secretary. A reshuffle of the Shadow Cabinet was undertaken in September 2023, which was dominated by Blairites and demoted MPs on the soft left.
Following the achievement by the Labour Party of a majority in the 2024 general election, the shadow cabinet was disbanded after Starmer became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 5 July 2024, succeeding Rishi Sunak of the Conservative Party.
Shadow Cabinet
April 2020 – May 2021 + Key Sits in the House of Commons Sits in the House of Lords
+ Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet of the United Kingdom[]PortfolioShadow MinisterConstituencyTerm Shadow cabinet ministersLeader of the OppositionLeader of the Labour PartyKeir Starmer Holborn and St PancrasApr 2020July 2024Deputy Leader of the OppositionDeputy Leader of the Labour PartyShadow First Secretary of StateAngela RaynerAshton-under-LyneApr 2020July 2024Chair of the Labour PartyNational Campaign CoordinatorApr 2020May 2021Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Anneliese DoddsOxford EastApr 2020May 2021Shadow Foreign SecretaryLisa NandyWiganApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Home SecretaryNick Thomas-SymondsTorfaenApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterShadow Minister for the Cabinet Office Rachel Reeves Leeds WestApr 2020May 2021Shadow Lord ChancellorShadow Secretary of State for JusticeDavid LammyTottenhamApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for DefenceJohn Healey Wentworth and DearneApr 2020July 2024Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Ed Miliband Doncaster NorthApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for International TradeEmily Thornberry Islington South and FinsburyApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for Work and PensionsJonathan ReynoldsStalybridge and HydeApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social CareJonathan AshworthLeicester SouthOct 2016Nov 2021 Shadow Secretary of State for EducationRebecca Long-BaileySalford and EcclesApr 2020June 2020Kate GreenStretford and UrmstonJun 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and SportJo StevensCardiff Central Apr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Chief Secretary to the TreasuryBridget Phillipson Houghton and Sunderland SouthApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsLuke PollardPlymouth Sutton and DevonportApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local GovernmentSteve ReedCroydon NorthApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for HousingThangam DebbonaireBristol WestApr 2020May 2021Shadow Secretary of State for TransportJim McMahonOldham West and RoytonApr 2020Nov 2021 Shadow Secretary of State for International DevelopmentPreet Gill Birmingham EdgbastonApr 2020Sep 2023Shadow Secretary of State for Northern IrelandLouise HaighSheffield HeeleyApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray Edinburgh SouthApr 2020July 2024Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Nia GriffithLlanelliApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities Marsha de Cordova BatterseaApr 2020Sep 2021Shadow Secretary of State for Employment Rights and ProtectionsAndy McDonald MiddlesbroughApr 2020Sep 2021Shadow Minister for Mental HealthRosena Allin-Khan TootingApr 2020Sep 2023Shadow Minister for Young People and Voter Engagement Cat SmithLancaster and FleetwoodJun 2016Nov 2021Shadow Attorney General for England and WalesCharlie Falconer Member of theHouse of LordsApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Leader of the House of CommonsValerie Vaz Walsall SouthOct 2016May 2021Opposition Chief Whip in the House of CommonsNick BrownNewcastle upon Tyne East Oct 2016May 2021Shadow Leader of the House of LordsAngela Smith Member of theHouse of LordsMay 2015July 2024Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords Tommy McAvoy Member of theHouse of LordsJan 2018Jun 2021
May 2021 – November 2021 + Key Sits in the House of Commons Sits in the House of Lords + Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet of the United Kingdom []PortfolioShadow MinisterConstituencyTerm Shadow cabinet ministersLeader of the OppositionLeader of the Labour PartyKeir Starmer Holborn and St PancrasApr 2020July 2024Deputy Leader of the OppositionDeputy Leader of the Labour PartyShadow First Secretary of State Angela Rayner Ashton-under-LyneApr 2020July 2024Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterShadow Minister for the Cabinet OfficeShadow Secretary of State for the Future of WorkMay 2021Sep 2023Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel ReevesLeeds WestMay 2021July 2024Shadow Foreign SecretaryLisa NandyWiganApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Home SecretaryNick Thomas-SymondsTorfaenApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Lord ChancellorShadow Secretary of State for JusticeDavid LammyTottenhamApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for DefenceJohn Healey Wentworth and DearneApr 2020July 2024Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Ed Miliband Doncaster NorthApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for International TradeEmily Thornberry Islington South and FinsburyApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for Work and PensionsJonathan ReynoldsStalybridge and HydeApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social CareJonathan AshworthLeicester SouthOct 2016Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for EducationKate GreenStretford and UrmstonJun 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and SportJo StevensCardiff Central Apr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsLuke PollardPlymouth Sutton and DevonportApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local GovernmentSteve ReedCroydon NorthApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for HousingLucy PowellManchester CentralMay 2021Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for TransportJim McMahonOldham West and RoytonApr 2020Nov 2021 Shadow Secretary of State for International DevelopmentPreet Gill Birmingham EdgbastonApr 2020Sep 2023Shadow Secretary of State for Northern IrelandLouise HaighSheffield HeeleyApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray Edinburgh SouthApr 2020July 2024Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Nia GriffithLlanelliApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for Women and EqualitiesMarsha de Cordova BatterseaApr 2020Sep 2021Anneliese Dodds Oxford East Sept 2021July 2024Chair of the Labour PartyMay 2021July 2024Shadow Secretary of State for Employment Rights and ProtectionsAndy McDonald MiddlesbroughApr 2020Sep 2021Shadow Secretary of State for Mental HealthRosena Allin-Khan TootingApr 2020Sep 2023Shadow Secretary of State for Young People and DemocracyCat SmithLancaster and FleetwoodJun 2016Nov 2021Shadow Secretary of State for Child Poverty Wes StreetingIlford NorthMay 2021Nov 2021Shadow Minister of State at the Cabinet OfficeJenny ChapmanMember of theHouse of LordsJun 2021July 2024Shadow Chief Secretary to the TreasuryBridget Phillipson Houghton and Sunderland SouthApr 2020Nov 2021Labour Party National Campaign CoordinatorShabana Mahmood Birmingham LadywoodMay 2021Sep 2023Shadow Attorney General for England and WalesCharlie Falconer Member of theHouse of LordsApr 2020Nov 2021Shadow Leader of the House of CommonsThangam DebbonaireBristol WestMay 2021Sep 2023Opposition Chief Whip in the House of CommonsAlan Campbell Tynemouth May 2021July 2024Shadow Leader of the House of LordsAngela Smith Member of theHouse of LordsMay 2015July 2024Opposition Chief Whip in the House of LordsRoy KennedyMember of theHouse of LordsJun 2021July 2024
November 2021 – September 2023 + Key Sits in the House of Commons Sits in the House of Lords + Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet of the United KingdomPortfolioShadow MinisterConstituencyTerm Shadow cabinet ministersLeader of the OppositionLeader of the Labour PartyKeir Starmer Holborn and St PancrasApr 2020July 2024Deputy Leader of the OppositionDeputy Leader of the Labour PartyShadow First Secretary of State Angela Rayner Ashton-under-LyneApr 2020July 2024Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterShadow Minister for the Cabinet OfficeShadow Secretary of State for the Future of WorkMay 2021Sep 2023Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel ReevesLeeds WestMay 2021July 2024Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development AffairsDavid LammyTottenhamNov 2021July 2024Shadow Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentYvette CooperNormanton, Pontefract and CastlefordNov 2021July 2024Shadow Lord ChancellorShadow Secretary of State for JusticeSteve ReedCroydon NorthNov 2021Sep 2023Shadow Secretary of State for DefenceJohn Healey Wentworth and DearneApr 2020July 2024Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero Ed Miliband Doncaster NorthNov 2021July 2024Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Industrial Strategy Jonathan ReynoldsStalybridge and HydeNov 2021July 2024Shadow Secretary of State for International TradeNick Thomas-SymondsTorfaenNov 2021Sep 2023Shadow Secretary of State for Work and PensionsJonathan AshworthLeicester SouthNov 2021Sep 2023Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social CareWes StreetingIlford NorthNov 2021July 2024Shadow Secretary of State for EducationBridget Phillipson Houghton and Sunderland SouthNov 2021July 2024Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and SportLucy PowellManchester CentralNov 2021Sep 2023Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsJim McMahonOldham West and RoytonNov 2021Sep 2023Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and CommunitiesLisa NandyWiganNov 2021Sep 2023Shadow Secretary of State for TransportLouise HaighSheffield HeeleyNov 2021July 2024 Shadow Secretary of State for Northern IrelandPeter Kyle HoveNov 2021Sep 2023Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray Edinburgh SouthApr 2020July 2024Shadow Secretary of State for WalesJo StevensCardiff CentralNov 2021July 2024Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities Anneliese Dodds Oxford EastSept 2021July 2024Chair of the Labour PartyMay 2021July 2024Shadow Minister of State at the Cabinet OfficeBaroness Chapman of DarlingtonMember of theHouse of LordsJun 2021July 2024Shadow Chief Secretary to the TreasuryPat McFadden Wolverhampton South EastNov 2021Sep 2023Shadow Cabinet Minister for International DevelopmentPreet Gill Birmingham EdgbastonApr 2020Sep 2023Shadow Cabinet Minister for Mental HealthRosena Allin-Khan TootingApr 2020Sep 2023Labour Party National Campaign CoordinatorShabana Mahmood Birmingham LadywoodMay 2021Sep 2023Shadow Attorney General for England and WalesEmily Thornberry Islington South and FinsburyNov 2021July 2024Shadow Leader of the House of CommonsThangam DebbonaireBristol WestMay 2021Sep 2023Opposition Chief Whip in the House of CommonsAlan Campbell Tynemouth May 2021July 2024Shadow Leader of the House of LordsBaroness Smith of Basildon Member of theHouse of LordsMay 2015July 2024Opposition Chief Whip in the House of LordsLord Kennedy of SouthwarkMember of theHouse of LordsJun 2021July 2024
September 2023 – July 2024