Lammy practised as a barrister before becoming MP for Tottenham in 2000, and served as a minister in both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s governments. In 2017, he authored a government-sponsored report into the treatment of black, Asian and minority ethnic individuals in the criminal justice system. He replaces former Thompsons’ employment solicitor Richard Burgon MP, who returns to the back benches.
Lammy said he was ‘determined to provide responsible and constructive opposition in the national interest’ during the coronavirus crisis, and described the pressures on courts and prisons as ‘extraordinary’.
Lord Falconer also returns to frontline politics, having been appointed Shadow Attorney-General, replacing Baroness Shami Chakrabarti.
Former Shadow Solicitor General, barrister Nick Thomas-Symonds has been appointed Shadow Home Secretary, replacing Diane Abbot MP, who returns to the back benches. His successor has not yet been appointed.
Upon his election, the new leader pledged that under his leadership Labour would engage constructively with the government, ‘not opposition for opposition’s sake. Not scoring party political points or making impossible demands. But with the courage to support where that’s the right thing to do’.
Sir Keir also paid tribute to the former leader Jeremy Corbyn, but acknowledged that anti-Semitism had been a stain on the party. ‘I have seen the grief that it’s brought to so many Jewish communities, he said. ‘On behalf of the Labour Party, I am sorry. And I will tear out this poison by its roots and judge success by the return of Jewish members and those who felt that they could no longer support us.’
