Sir Vince handed health and social care brief as Lib Dems announce shake up
The Liberal Democrats have announced a shake-up of their top team at Westminster.
The changes come after Jo Swinson was elected as the party’s leader last month.
Former Labour frontbencher Chuka Umunna will now speak for the Lib Dems on foreign affairs, international trade and international development.
Mr Umunna was shadow business secretary before leaving Labour to become one of the founding members of the Independent Group/Change UK in February.
He joined the Lib Dems in June.
Ms Swinson’s leadership rival, Sir Ed Davey, will take on the Treasury and business brief.
Former leaders of the party have also been given top jobs.
Sir Vince Cable (pictured) will now speak for the party on health and social care and Tim Farron will speak on local government and work and pensions.
The party has 14 MPs, with 12 of them in top jobs.
Sarah Wollaston, formerly of the Conservatives and Change UK, the chairwoman of the health select committee and Norman Lamb, a former health minister, are the only two MPs without frontbench jobs.
Full Lib Dem frontbench team line-up:
- Jo Swinson – party leader
- Sir Ed Davey – Treasury and business spokesman
- Chuka Umunna – foreign affairs, international trade and international development spokesman
- Christine Jardine – home affairs, justice, women and equalities spokeswoman
- Tom Brake – Brexit spokesman
- Jamie Stone – defence and Scotland spokesman
- Sir Vince Cable – health and social care spokesman
- Layla Moran – education and culture spokeswoman
- Wera Hobhouse – climate, environment and transport spokeswoman
- Tim Farron – housing, local government, work and pensions spokesman
- Alistair Carmichael – chief whip and Northern Ireland spokesman
- Jane Dodds – food, rural affairs and Wales spokeswoman
Copyright (c) PA Media Ltd. 2019, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) David Mirzoeff / PA Wire.
