Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet reshuffle prompts new Labour row

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is facing a row over his new shadow cabinet, after the chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party said he was not informed about the reshuffle.


John Cryer said in a letter to MPs that the party leadership had not told him or sacked chief whip Rosie Winterton about the changes.

The PLP had held talks with party leaders over shadow cabinet elections.

A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said he was willing to continue the discussions.

His reshuffle has seen deputy leader Tom Watson appointed shadow culture secretary, as well as the return of several MPs who quit the shadow cabinet in the summer in protest at Mr Corbyn's leadership.

In other appointments, Jon Ashworth became shadow health secretary, John Healey returned to housing and Diane Abbott became shadow home secretary.

In his letter, Mr Cryer mentioned how, in early September, the PLP voted "overwhelmingly" for the return of elections to the shadow cabinet.

"This led to negotiations involving myself and the then chief whip, Rosie Winterton, and people from the leadership team.