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* Leader's Parliamentary Private Secretary - [[Tim Farron]]
* Leader's Parliamentary Private Secretary - [[Tim Farron]]


===Lib Dems Cabinet Reshuffle (4 July 2007 - present)===<ref>[http://www.libdems.org.uk/party/people/spokes.html Liberal Democrat Shadow Ministers]</ref>
===Lib Dems Cabinet Reshuffle (4 July 2007 - present)===
*[[List of United Kingdom Liberal Democrat leaders|Leader of the Liberal Democrats]] - Sir [[Walter Menzies Campbell]]
*[[List of United Kingdom Liberal Democrat leaders|Leader of the Liberal Democrats]] - Sir [[Walter Menzies Campbell]]
* Lib Dems [[Liberal Democrats deputy leadership election, 2006|Deputy Leader]] and [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] - [[Vincent Cable]]
* Lib Dems [[Liberal Democrats deputy leadership election, 2006|Deputy Leader]] and [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] - [[Vincent Cable]]
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* Lib Dems [[Solicitor General for England and Wales|Solicitor General]] - [[David Howarth]]
* Lib Dems [[Solicitor General for England and Wales|Solicitor General]] - [[David Howarth]]


===Spokesmen of Lib Dems Cabinet (4 July 2007 - present)===<ref>[http://www.libdems.org.uk/party/people/spokes.html Liberal Democrat Shadow Ministers]</ref>
===Spokesmen of Lib Dems Cabinet (4 July 2007 - present)===
* Treasury - [[Colin Breed]]
* Treasury - [[Colin Breed]]
* Foreign Affairs - [[Mark Hunter (politician)|Mark Hunter]]
* Foreign Affairs - [[Mark Hunter (politician)|Mark Hunter]]
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*[http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/libdems.cfm Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet]
*[http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/libdems.cfm Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4777702.stm Campbell fills top Lib Dem posts (BBC)]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4777702.stm Campbell fills top Lib Dem posts (BBC)]
*[http://www.libdems.org.uk/party/people/spokes.html Liberal Democrat Shadow Ministers]
*[http://www.libdems.org.uk/party/people/spokes.html Liberal Democrat Shadow Ministers]


[[Category:Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team]]
[[Category:Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team]]

Revision as of 18:22, 5 July 2007

The Liberal Democrats are the third-largest political party in the United Kingdom. The Liberal Democrat leader appoints a team of Members of Parliament (MPs) and Peers to speak for the party on different issues. Their areas of responsibility broadly correspond to those of Government ministers. The party calls its frontbench the Liberal Democrat shadow ministerial team. The shadow ministerial team are divided into departmental sub-units, such as Education, Health and Foreign Affairs. The leader of each departmental team is a member of the Liberal Democrat 'Shadow Cabinet'.

Status

Formerly, the Liberal Democrats frontbench team did not use the term 'Shadow Cabinet', with a number of front bench spokespeople covering areas (e.g., Defence and Foreign Affairs) rather than directly shadowing specific Cabinet portfolios. Under Charles Kennedy's leadership, and with the increase in numbers of Liberal Democrat MPs, the senior members of the front bench team referred to themselves as a Shadow Cabinet, although (in UK politics) this is a constitutional body appointed by the Crown, whose membership comprises senior members of the front bench team of the largest opposition party in the House of Commons.

Following Charles Kennedy's decision to change the nomenclature, the UK Parliament's website now uses the term 'Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet' and does not use the old term Frontbench Team.[1][2]

However, this is not without contention and is disputed by the Conservative Party. Gordon Brown also made a notable remark that in the House of Commons:

"The House of Commons is in the unique position of having two shadow Chancellors: one sits in Folkestone and the other in Truro. It is rather like the mediaeval papacy: two hon. Members claim to hold the position of shadow Chancellor. I shall organise a play-off during the year."[3]

This is a theme to which Gordon Brown has returned recently, comparing and contrasting his frosty relationship with the official Shadow Chancellor George Osborne with his apparently warm relationship with Vince Cable (whom he refers to as 'the Shadow Chancellor from Twickenham').

The official Shadow Cabinet (currently formed by the Conservative Party) receives support for its official function which are denied to the Liberal Democrats, although they, along with every parliamentary party, do receive Short money. Salaries are paid to the Opposition Leader and the Chief Whips but not to the leader of the Liberal Democrats. Moreover, the constitutionial Shadow Cabinet has the exclusive use of facilities within Parliament (including the use of a Shadow Cabinet block of offices, Shadow Cabinet meeting rooms and a suite of offices for the Opposition Leader). There is a great deal of resistance within Parliament to conferring 'Shadow' titles to the third party.

Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team

Lib Dems Cabinet (2 March 2006 - 4 July 2007)

It should be noted that while these are the positions defined by the Liberal Democrats, many sections of the media, and political opponents continue to refer to members of the Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet as spokespeople (for example Defence spokesperson rather than Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary)

Spokeman of Lib Dems Cabinet (2 March 2006 - 4 July 2007)

Lib Dems Cabinet Reshuffle (4 July 2007 - present)

Spokesmen of Lib Dems Cabinet (4 July 2007 - present)

Liberal Democrats House of Lords Frontbench Team

Liberal Democrat peers are also organised into teams broadly corresponding to the areas of Government departments.

References

  1. ^ "Directory of MPs, Peers, Offices and Overseas Delegations". House of Commons Information Office. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
  2. ^ "Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet and Parliamentary Team". House of Commons Information Office. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
  3. ^ "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 27 Nov 2001 (pt 8)". The Stationery Office Ltd. 2001. Retrieved 2006-09-04. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |monthday= ignored (help)

See also

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