Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom)
Today, Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom) is a topic that arouses interest in a wide variety of people around the world. Whether because of its influence on society, its relevance in history, or its impact on daily life, this topic has captured the attention of academics, experts, and enthusiasts alike. From its origins to its implications in the present, Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom) continues to be the subject of constant debate and analysis. In this article, we will explore in depth the different aspects of Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom), from its origins to its evolution over time, in order to provide a comprehensive look at this fascinating topic.
Opposition cabinet of the United Kingdom
For the larger opposition frontbench, which includes junior Shadow Ministers, see Opposition frontbench.
The Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet, or His Majesty’s Most Loyal Opposition Shadow Cabinet, but usually simply the Shadow Cabinet, is the committee of senior members of the Official Opposition who scrutinise the work of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. Each Shadow Cabinet member is typically given a position which corresponds to that of a governmentminister in Cabinet. Shadow Cabinet members, known as Shadow Ministers, are usually appointed by the Leader of the Opposition (currently Sir Keir Starmer). The role of a Shadow Minister is to develop alternative policies, hold the government to account for its actions and responses, and act as spokespeople for the opposition party in their own specific policy areas. By convention, Shadow Ministers are either serving members of the House of Commons or the House of Lords, with most chosen from the former. Since May 2010, Labour has been the Official Opposition, and its leadership therefore forms the current Shadow Cabinet.
Not all opposition frontbenchers are members of the Shadow Cabinet, which is composed of the most senior opposition members (usually around twenty).
The Leader of the Opposition, the Opposition Chief Whip and Opposition Deputy Chief Whip are the only members of the Official Opposition in the House of Commons to be paid for their opposition roles in addition to their salaries as Members of Parliament. The Leader of the Opposition and the Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords also receive a salary.
^"Shadow cabinet". Institute for Government. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2022. The shadow cabinet is made up of senior members of the main opposition party in Westminster who act as spokespeople for the opposition in specific policy areas. Their job is to scrutinise those they 'shadow' in government, and develop policies for their party.