Wakefield MP Mary Creagh has today (October 8) been named as shadow secretary for environment, food and rural affairs.
Labour leader Ed Miliband today also appointed MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch Meg Hillier as shadow secretary for energy – a role he performed as secretary of state under the Labour administration.
Ms Creagh joined parliament in 2005 representing Wakefield before becoming a government minister in June 2009 as a whip in the department of health. From September 2006 to June 2009, she had worked as a parliamentary private secretary to former culture secretary Andy Burnham.
She has experience working at the European Parliament and European Youth Forum, while also having campaigned on issues such as children's food, domestic violence and genocide and human rights violations.
While she appears to have little experience in waste and recycling, in August this year Ms Creagh submitted a formal objection over the development of a composting facility on the edge of the former Wolley Edge Colliery. Ms Creagh pointed to alleged health concerns around the proposal.
Energy
Meanwhile, Meg Hillier, 41, has been handed the job of shadowing energy secretary Chris Huhne. Ms Hillier was elected to parliament in 2005 having previously been Mayor of Hackney and also having stood on the London Assembly.
As MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, Ms Hillier has been involved in signing up the London council to the 10:10 carbon reduction pledge and been involved in discussions with the Olympic Development Authority for the construction of wind turbines on Hackney Marshes.
It is thought that the energy brief is one close to the opposition leader's heart, as Mr Miliband was the first to hold the post of energy secretary and oversaw the publication of the UK's Renewable Energy Strategy in July 2009 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Elsewhere in the shadow cabinet, Caroline Flint – who stepped down from frontline politics under Gordon Brown – is set to go head-to-head with communities secretary Eric Pickles after being named shadow communities secretary.
Cabinet
Also involved in the changes to the shadow cabinet line-up, former communities secretary John Denham has become shadow secretary for business, which means he will have responsibility for WEEE and batteries.
During his tenure as communities secretary Mr Denham was charged with planning inquiries into large-scale waste infrastructure projects. It is thought that he will bring a great deal of experience to his new post.
Announcing the new shadow cabinet Ed Miliband, leader of the Labour Party, said: “I am delighted with my new shadow cabinet, drawn from a broad range of talents across our party. My team is united in one central mission for the future – to win back the trust of the British people and take Labour back to power.
“Together, this new generation of Labour will work together to reject the pessimism of this coalition government as we set out our vision of what Britain can achieve. Our values are those of the British people, and this Shadow Cabinet will ensure that the hopes and concerns of working families are at the heart of our offer to the country.”
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