Shadow Cabinet of John Smith

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John Smith was Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Official Opposition from 18 July 1992 until his death on 12 May 1994. Smith became leader upon succeeding Neil Kinnock, who had resigned following the 1992 general election—for the fourth successive time, the Conservatives had won and Labour lost.


Prior to being Leader of the Opposition, Smith had been a member of the Government of James Callaghan as President of the Board of Trade (1978–1979), and served under his predecessor Neil Kinnock's Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer (1987–1992).

Smith's tenure as Leader of the Opposition saw the Government's policies of the implementation of the Citizen's Charter, progress in the Northern Ireland peace negotiations, and the creation and centralisation of the European Union. Smith died suddenly on 12 May 1994, and was replaced as Acting Leader by Margaret Beckett, who served until 21 July 1994.

Shadow Cabinet list

Portfolio Shadow Minister Term
Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition
Leader of the Labour Party		 The Rt Hon. John Smith 1992–1994
Deputy Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Election Co-ordinator		 Margaret Beckett[1] 1992–1994
Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords The Lord Richard[1] 1992–1997
Labour Chief Whip in the House of Commons Derek Foster[1] 1985–1995
Labour Chief Whip in the House of Lords The Lord Graham of Edmonton 1990–1994
Shadow Lord Chancellor The Lord Irvine of Lairg 1992–1994
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown 1992–1994
Shadow Foreign Secretary Jack Cunningham[1] 1992–1994
Shadow Home Secretary Tony Blair 1992–1994
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence David Clark 1992–1994
Shadow Secretary of State for Education Ann Taylor 1992–1994
Shadow Secretary of State for Employment Frank Dobson 1992–1993
John Prescott 1993–1994
Shadow Minister for Local Government and Housing Jack Straw 1992–1994
Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment Chris Smith 1992–1994
Shadow Secretary of State for Health David Blunkett 1992–1994
Shadow Secretary of State for Social Security Donald Dewar 1992–1994
Shadow Secretary of State for National Heritage Bryan Gould 1992
Ann Clwyd 1992–1993
Mo Mowlam 1993–1994
Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Robin Cook 1992–1994
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport John Prescott 1992–1993
Frank Dobson 1993–1994
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Tom Clarke 1992–1993
George Robertson 1993–1994
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Ann Clwyd 1992–1993
Ron Davies 1993–1994
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Kevin McNamara 1992–1994
Shadow Minister for Overseas Development Michael Meacher 1992–1993
Tom Clarke 1993–1994
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Shadow Spokesperson for the Citizen's Charter		 Mo Mowlam 1992–1993
Michael Meacher 1993–1994
Shadow Minister for the Status of Women Mo Mowlam 1992–1993
Clare Short 1993–1994
Shadow Spokesperson for Children and Families Joan Lestor 1993–1994
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Harriet Harman 1992–1994
Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Ron Davies 1992–1993
Gavin Strang 1993–1994
Shadow Minister for London Chris Smith 1992–1993
Frank Dobson 1993–1994

Initial Shadow Cabinet

On 18 July 1992, John Smith announced the following Shadow Cabinet:[2]

Changes

1993 reshuffle

Smith reshuffled the Shadow Cabinet on 21 October 1993, following the 1993 Shadow Cabinet elections.[6] Clwyd left the Shadow Cabinet. Mowlam replaced her as Shadow National Heritage Secretary, with Clare Short (who also lost in the Shadow Cabinet elections) replacing her as Shadow Minister for the Status of Women. Meacher replaced Mowlam as Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Shadow Minister for the Citizen's Charter. He was in turn replaced by Clarke at the Overseas Development portfolio, and Clarke was replaced as Scottish Spokesperson by new Shadow Cabinet minister George Robertson. Clwyd was replaced as Shadow Welsh Secretary by Davies, who was replaced at Agriculture by Gavin Strang. Prescott and Dobson exchanged portfolios (receiving Employment and Transport, respectively), with Dobson also takikng London from Chris Smith. Blunkett became Chair of the Labour Party while retaining the Health portfolio.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Privy Counsellor from 1993.
  2. ↑ Timmins, Nicholas (25 July 1992). "Smith revamps Shadow Cabinet: Nicholas Timmins analyses the Labour line-up and looks at the backgrounds of the newcomers". The Independent. London. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  3. 1 2 White, Michael (29 September 1992). "Referendum call crushed as Smith strengthens grip". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  4. 1 2 White, Michael; Travis, Alan (28 September 1992). "Gould quits over 'gag' on Europe". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  5. ↑ "Ms Ann Clwyd MP". parliament.co.uk. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  6. ↑ Linton, Martin (22 October 1993). "Women's lists 'not illegal': The New Shadow Cabinet". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
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