07 October 2011

Benn takes on shadow DCLG brief

Hilary Benn has taken on the shadow local government brief as part of Labour leader Ed Miliband’s autumn reshuffle.

Caroline Flint, who held the CLG brief until today, has moved to shadow the coalition’s Energy and Climate Change team.

Mr Miliband has made several top-tier changes to his team following the resignations of former DCLG Cabinet ministers John Denham and John Healey. Andy Burnham, former health secretary in Gordon Brown’s government, moves to the shadow health brief vacated by Mr Healey.

Chuka Ummuna, has taken on the shadow business, innovation and skills brief vacated by Mr Denham, who has become Mr Miliband’s parliamentary private secretary.

Another fast-rising Labour MP, Liz Kendall, will attend shadow Cabinet meetings in her new role as shadow care and older people’s minister.

Mr Burnham’s former shadow education brief has been handed to Stephen Twigg.

A number of Labour’s big hitters have remained in their current posts, including shadow chancellor Ed Balls, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper and shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan.