Labour’s shadow cabinet take their seats

Johann Lamont, the new Scottish Labour Party Leader wasted no time in appointing her shadow cabinet.

Meeting for the first time in this week leading to Christmas, the Shadow Cabinet sorted out their portfolios.

A mix of experienced former ministers and newer voices ‘to speak on the important issue for Scotland,’ the Leader said: ‘Our job will not just be to hold the Scottish Government to account, but to show our party’s ambition again. Together we must set out and convince the people of Scotland of Labour’s vision for our country. Ours is a positive vision for a prosperous Scotland that can pay its own way, a wealth-creating Scotland that uses its wealth to build a fairer country, a Scotland determined that not one person’s talent is wasted, a Scotland that challenges all Scots to be all that they can be, and which creates the conditions in which we can reach our aspirations.’

Flanked by her deputy, Anas Sarwar and Margaret Curran, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, the Pollok MSP’s team is:

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth – Ken Macintosh

Shadow Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism – Rhoda Grant

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy – Jackie Baillie

Shadow Minister for Public Health – Richard Simpson

Shadow Minister for Social Justice – Drew Smith

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning – Hugh Henry

Shadow Minister for Children and Young People – Neil Bibby
Shadow Minister for Learning and Skills – Neil Findlay
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture, External Affairs and the Commonwealth Games – Patricia Ferguson

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment – Richard Baker

Shadow Minister for Housing and Transport – Elaine Murray

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice – Lewis Macdonald

Shadow Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs – Jenny Marra

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Planning – Sarah Boyack

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment – Claire Baker

Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change – Claudia Beamish

Shadow Minister for Youth Employment (attending shadow cabinet and working with education and finance teams) – Kezia Dugdale

Scottish Labour Parliamentary Business Manager – Paul Martin

Chief Whip – James Kelly
Shadow Whip – John Pentland

In addition, Johann Lamont has asked Tom Harris MP to review how Scottish Labour uses technology to campaign. He will report to the deputy leader Anas Sarwar. Mr Harris will also work with Shadow Cabinet Secretary Richard Baker to advise on capital investment and infrastructure.
In making her final announcements to complete her team Johann Lamont said: ‘Scottish Labour has an excellent set of newly-elected MSPs and I am very pleased to have appointed eight of them to front bench roles. Together, over the coming months, we will be working hard to change Scottish Labour.’

In the new year she intends to make further shadow cabinet appointments from beyond the world of politics.