Oldham MP Jim McMahon has said he is ‘delighted’ to return to the Labour Party frontbench following a reshuffle.

Mr McMahon, who is also chair of the Co-operative Party, resigned from the Labour frontbench earlier this year as he recovered from illness following a stay in hospital.

The Labour Party announced new roles for 11 MPs and two peers on Monday afternoon.

The Oldham West and Royton MP joins Angela Rayner, whose constituency includes Failsworth, on the party’s frontbench in the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities brief. 

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Ms Rayner, who is the Deputy Leader of the party, was given her role as Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities back in September, replacing Lisa Nandy in the position.

Back in September, Mr McMahon said that he remained a ‘firm supporter’ of party leader Sir Keir Starmer after resigning from his frontbench position as shadow environment secretary.

Mr McMahon, who previously served as leader of Oldham Council, had a period in the Royal Oldham Hospital after he was treated for an infection in October 2022.

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Reacting to the news, Mr McMahon said: “As I return to the frontbench as Shadow Minister for English Devolution and Local Government, I look forward to working with Angela Rayner, my friend and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and her team, as well as the wonderful Labour local government family.

“I am delighted to further champion the work of councillors and mayors, to make the case for further devolution, and to fight for the financial sustainability of local government which has done so much to improve the lives of millions in England.”

Full list of appointments

The full list of appointments made to the Labour Party frontbench yesterday is as follows:

  • Alex Davies-Jones MP - Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding (Home Office).
  • Feryal Clark MP - Shadow Minister for Crime Reduction (Home Office).  
  • Jim McMahon MP - Shadow Minister for English Devolution and Local Government (Levelling Up, Housing and Communities).
  • Liz Twist MP - Shadow Minister for Local Services and Communities (Levelling Up, Housing and Communities).
  • Baroness (Maeve) Sherlock OBE - Shadow Minister for Faith (Levelling Up, Housing and Communities).
  • Steve McCabe MP - Shadow Minister for Veterans (Defence).
  • Karl Turner MP - Shadow Solicitor General (Law Officers).
  • Ashley Dalton MP - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities (Women and Equalities).
  • Tan Dhesi MP - Shadow Minister for Exports (Business and Trade).
  • Lord (Spencer) Livermore - Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Treasury).
  • Chris Evans MP - Shadow Minister for Tech and Digital Economy (Science, Innovation and Technology).
  • Michael Shanks MP - Shadow Minister for Scotland (Scotland).
  • Jeff Smith MP - Senior Legislation Whip (Opposition Whips’ Office).

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Oldham. Please email me at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.