Top row: Yasmin Qureshi, Khalid Mahmood, Imran Hussain, Tulip Siddiq, Bottom row. Naz Shah, Afzal Khan, & Rosena Allin-Khan

Hamed Chapman

“I’m proud to have appointed a Shadow Cabinet that showcases the breadth, depth and talents of the Labour Party,” Sir Keir Starmer announced after being elected as the new Opposition Leader on April 4.

But how representative the Cabinet is, is highly questionable.

The 57-year-old former Director of Public Prosecutions pledged that his front-bench team would be balanced not only between the various wings of the Party but also “in terms of diversity” though many felt that he failed on both counts.

His allies insisted there would be no “purge” of the left but would be marked more by a shift in tone, yet no so-called Corbynistas were given any of the top jobs. Even his main Momentum-supported rival Rebecca Long-Bailey was only given the education portfolio.

Likewise, although the Shadow Cabinet was billed as having seven ethnic minority members, the most senior on the list was David Lammy who has been given Justice Secretary portfolio.

Most notably Starmer’s seven-member Covid-19 committee tasked with responding to the current pandemic are all white.

No positions within the front-bench team were given to any of the fourteen Labour Muslim MPs. However, Junior Minister for Mental Health, Rosena Allin-Khan will be attending Shadow Cabinet meetings.

For full Shadow Cabinet click here

Islamophobia in political parties