Ed Miliband appointed to new shadow cabinet

In another sign of the Labour Party’s shift toward centrist politics, former leader, Ed Miliband, has been welcomed to the shadow cabinet.

New Labour party leader, Keir Starmer, has appointed Miliband to the role of shadow business secretary.

Miliband, who led Labour between 2010 and 2015, is widely judged to have failed to change the party’s fortunes following its defeat in the May 2010 general election.

A self-described socialist, Miliband nonetheless detracts significantly from the doctrines and political style of Jeremy Corbyn, who stepped down as Labour party leader on April 04.

He is the brother of David Miliband, who was British foreign secretary between 2007 and 2010.

Miliband’s surprise return to the centre stage of British politics is being viewed as an attempt by new leader, Starmer, to decisively break from the Corbyn era.

Besides appointing Miliband to his new role, Starmer has made sweeping changes to the shadow cabinet to bring it in line with his centrist political philosophy.

In another surprise move, Starmer has appointed failed leadership contender, Lisa Nandy to the important role of shadow foreign secretary.

Nandy is widely judged to lack the experience for the role, especially at a time of heightened volatility in the UK’s foreign relations.

In other important appointments, David Lammy is now the new shadow justice secretary, John Healey the shadow defence secretary and Jonathan Reynolds has been appointed as shadow work and pensions secretary.

In a deliberate snub to the Corbyn era, Starmer has sacked Baroness Shami Chakrabarti – a devoted Corbyn loyalist who oversaw a 2016 inquiry into allegations of anti-semitism in the Labour party – as shadow attorney general.

Chakrabarti, who was director of civil rights group Liberty between 2003 and 2016, has been replaced by Lord Charlie Falconer, who is a Tony Blair loyalist.

Furthermore, to consolidate his grip over Labour, Starmer has appointed his deputy, Angela Rayner, as chair of the party.

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