Hayman appointed shadow Defra minister

Ms Hayman – whose opposition brief will include waste and recycling – was chosen by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn last night as one of four new appointments to the frontbench.

Previously a Cumbria county councillor, Ms Hayman was first elected as MP for Workington in May 2015.

She has previously served as a whip in Mr Corbyn’s government from September 2015 until October 2016 – and more recently as shadow environment minister for flooding and coastal communities.

In her short time as a Member of Parliament, Ms Hayman has not debated any waste or recycling policy.

However, as coastal communities minister she has called for more ‘waste facility areas’ to keep food waste secure from gulls, and last month argued that local authority collection costs in rural areas were almost ‘double’ of those in towns and cities.

In her own constituency, Ms Hayman has written about working with the nuclear industry to bring more jobs and social and economic benefits to West Cumbria. Her hobbies include singing, gardening and reading.

Maskell

Her appointment follows Ms Maskell’s decision to leave the shadow cabinet last week, after Mr Corbyn imposed a three-line whip on his party to vote in favour of the government’s EU Withdrawal Bill.

Ms Maskell, who said she had ‘serious concerns’ over the impact of the withdrawal from the European single market, had previously told letsrecycle.com that Labour was ‘committed’ to upholding the EU’s Circular Economy package in light of Brexit (see letsrecycle.com story).

Other MPs to have gained posts include Rebecca Long-Bailey as Shadow BEIS Secretary, Christina Rees as Shadow Secretary for Wales and Peter Dowd as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Mr Corbyn said: “I’m pleased to announce appointments to Labour’s Shadow Cabinet. We have a wealth of talent in our party and the strength of our shadow team will develop Labour’s alternative plan to rebuild and transform Britain, so that no one and no community is left behind.”

Ms Hayman’s office was contacted by letsrecycle.com but could not be reached for comment.