New Labour leader KierStarmer has vowed to reconnect his party with the public following its disastrous electoral performance in December.
Anneliese Dodds (pictured) has been named as the Shadow Chancellor replacing John McDonnell who has resigned following the departure of Jeremy Corbyn.
Dodds has been the MP for Oxford East since 2017 and was previously a member of the European Parliament.
New Labour leader KierStarmer said: “We are living through a national emergency.
"Under my leadership, the Labour Party will always act in the country’s interest to save lives and protect livelihoods. That will be the number one priority of my shadow cabinet.
“We will be a responsible opposition that supports the government where we believe they are right and challenge them when we believe mistakes are being made.”
The leader of the opposition has vowed to make it his ‘mission’ to reconnect the party with the public, adding that Labour needs to change so trust can be regained.
Under the Corbyn leadership of Labour she served as shadow Treasury minister.
Outgoing Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell took to Twitter to praise his replacement.
Congratulations to @AnnelieseDodds on her appointment as Shadow Chancellor. Anneliese was a superb member of my Treasury team, is really talented, works incredibly hard and is conscientious in all she does. I wish her every success in her new role & she will have my full support.
— John McDonnell MP (@johnmcdonnellMP) April 5, 2020
Prior to her time in politics Dodds was an academic lecturing in public policy at King’s College London and Aston University.
Other confirmed appointments see Angela Rayner appointed as deputy leader, Diane Abbott replaced as Shadow Home Secretary by Nick Thomas-Symonds, Lisa Nandy taking over the shadow Foreign Office brief from Emily Thornberry and Rachel Reeves becoming Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth, chief whip Nick Brown and Shadow Leader of the Lords: Angela Smith are all staying in post.
New leader Starmer secured 56% of the 490,731 votes cast in the three-month Labour leadership contest - beating rivals Rebecca Long-Bailey and newly appointed Shadow Foreign Secretary Nandy to the top job.
Junior roles are expected to be announced on Monday.
