Labour looks set to appoint its fourth shadow pensions minister in a year after Jeremy Corbyn’s reshuffle following his party delivering a vote of no confidence in him.
Angela Rayner, who held the position since January, has been moved on to become shadow minister for women and equality after publically supporting Mr Corbyn.
The Labour leader has been faced with a successful vote of no confidence from his MPs and two thirds of his shadow cabinet resigned this week.
Ms Rayner, the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, said the Labour Party needed to unite behind its leader and show leadership after last week’s vote to leave the European Union.
She criticised her fellow MPs for “self-indulgent opportunism” on the issue of the Labour leadership.
Mr Corbyn published his new shadow cabinet yesterday evening (28 June) but a shadow pensions minister was not listed.
He said more appointments would be made “in the coming hours”.
Former work and pensions select committee member Debbie Abrahams has replaced Owen Smith as shadow work and pensions secretary.
Since last year’s general election Labour has had three shadow pensions ministers: Lord Bradley held the position in the run-up to the Labour leadership election in September, after this Nick Thomas-Symonds was appointed before being reshuffled to become a shadow justice minister in January when Ms Rayner was appointed.
Before the general election Gregg McClymont held the position for five years shadowing the Liberal Democrats Steve Webb.
