Shadow Cabinet of Rishi Sunak explained

Cabinet Name:Sunak Shadow Cabinet
Flag:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Flag Border:true
Cabinet Type:Shadow cabinet
Jurisdiction:the United Kingdom
Incumbent:JulyNovember 2024
Date Formed:8 July 2024
Date Dissolved:2 November 2024
State Head Title:Monarch
State Head:Charles III
Government Head Title:Leader of the Opposition
Government Head:Rishi Sunak
Deputy Government Head:Oliver Dowden
Deputy Government Head Title:Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
Legislature Term:2024 UK Parliament
Incoming Formation:2024 general election
Outgoing Formation:2024 Conservative leadership election
Previous:Shadow Cabinet of Keir Starmer
Successor:Shadow Cabinet of Kemi Badenoch

Rishi Sunak was Leader of the Opposition as Leader of the Conservative Party from 5 July to 2 November 2024, following his resignation as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the aftermath of the Conservative Party's defeat in the 2024 general election. He formed his shadow cabinet on 8 July 2024. Sunak served as Leader of the Opposition in a caretaker capacity until his successor was elected in the 2024 Conservative leadership election; the result was announced on 2 November.

Overview

In his resignation speech, Rishi Sunak announced that he would resign as the Conservative leader once the arrangements are in place for his successor to be elected in the 2024 Conservative leadership election.[1] He formed his shadow cabinet on 8 July 2024.[2] This was the party's first shadow cabinet since the Shadow Cabinet of David Cameron, which was disbanded in 2010 after Cameron formed a coalition government with Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrats following that year's general election.[3]

Most members of Sunak's cabinet heading into the 2024 general election were given the same portfolios in the shadow cabinet, including former chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who became shadow chancellor, and former home secretary James Cleverly, who became shadow home secretary. Cameron, who previously served as foreign secretary, chose to retire from frontline politics, with his former deputy Andrew Mitchell becoming shadow foreign secretary instead.[4] Richard Holden resigned as party chairman, and was succeeded by Richard Fuller in an interim capacity outside shadow cabinet.[5]

Sunak appointed new officeholders to the portfolios held by the eleven cabinet ministers who lost their seats in the election, including Edward Argar, who became shadow justice secretary after the outgoing justice secretary Alex Chalk lost his seat, as well as Helen Whately, who became shadow transport secretary after the outgoing transport secretary Mark Harper also lost his seat. Among other noteworthy appointments, Kemi Badenoch became the shadow housing, communities and local government secretary and former deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden became deputy leader of the opposition.[6]

Sunak served as Leader of the Opposition in a caretaker capacity until his successor was elected in the 2024 Conservative leadership election; the result was announced on 2 November.

Shadow cabinet appointments

style="background: ; width: 1px;"
Sits in the House of Commons
Sits in the House of Lords
Shadow Minister!Constituency!Term
Shadow cabinet ministers
Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Conservative Party
Rishi Sunak Richmond and NorthallertonJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Sir Oliver Dowden HertsmereJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt Godalming and AshJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Andrew Mitchell Sutton ColdfieldJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly BraintreeJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for DefenceJames Cartlidge South SuffolkJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Lord ChancellorShadow Secretary of State for Justice Ed Argar Melton and SystonJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and TechnologyAndrew Griffith Arundel and South DownsJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Victoria Atkins Louth and HorncastleJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Kemi Badenoch North West EssexJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Barclay North East CambridgeshireJuly 2024November 2024
Chris Philp Croydon SouthJuly 2024November 2024
The Lord True Member of the House of LordsJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Business and TradeKevin Hollinrake Thirsk and MaltonJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Claire Coutinho East SurreyJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride Central DevonJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Education Damian Hinds East HampshireJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for TransportHelen Whately Faversham and Mid KentJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and SportJulia Lopez Hornchurch and UpminsterJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern IrelandAlex Burghart Brentwood and OngarJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for ScotlandJohn Lamont Berwickshire, Roxburgh and SelkirkJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales The Lord Davies of GowerMember of the House of LordsJuly 2024November 2024
Also attending shadow cabinet meetings
Opposition Chief Whip of the House of Commons Stuart Andrew DaventryJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott SevenoaksJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Attorney General Jeremy Wright Kenilworth and SouthamJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Paymaster General John Glen SalisburyJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Minister for Security Tom Tugendhat TonbridgeJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Minister for VeteransAndrew Bowie West Aberdeenshire and KincardineJuly 2024November 2024
Shadow Minister for Women and EqualitiesMims Davies East Grinstead and UckfieldJuly 2024November 2024

Junior roles

On 18 July, further junior frontbench roles were appointed.[7]

Changes

Changes from Sunak's final Cabinet to Shadow Cabinet.[8] [9] [10] [11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2024-07-04 . Rishi Sunak accepts responsibility for historic Tory defeat . 2024-07-05 . BBC News . en-GB.
  2. News: Kelly . Kieran . 8 July 2024 . Richard Holden quits as Tory party chairman as Rishi Sunak unveils shadow cabinet . 8 July 2024 . LBC News.
  3. News: Craig . Jon . 8 July 2024 . Sunak names shadow cabinet . 8 July 2024 . Sky News.
  4. News: Hymas . Charles . 8 July 2024 . David Cameron to step back from frontline politics . 8 July 2024 . The Telegraph.
  5. Web site: UK's Sunak appoints 'shadow' cabinet after historic election loss | Reuters. .
  6. News: Muvija . M. . 8 July 2024 . UK's Sunak appoints 'shadow' cabinet after historic election loss . 8 July 2024 . Reuters.
  7. Web site: 2024-07-19 . Conservatives add to front bench team from reduced post-election ranks . 2024-07-20 . BBC News . en-GB.
  8. News: David Cameron quits Tory frontbench as Sunak names interim top team. Peter. Walker. Peter Walker Senior political. correspondent. July 8, 2024. The Guardian.
  9. Web site: His Majesty's Official Opposition: The Shadow Cabinet – MPs and Lords – UK Parliament.
  10. Web site: Sunak names interim shadow cabinet as David Cameron resigns. July 8, 2024. BBC News.
  11. Web site: Sunak appoints former Royal Navy officer as shadow veterans' minister. Conor. Wilson. July 9, 2024. www.forces.net.
  12. https://x.com/pauljholmes/status/1814365536538493070