Labour Party Selects New Shadow Cabinet

Jeremy Corbyn MP, the newly elected Labour leader, announced the party’s shadow cabinet this week (Monday 14 September). Tom Watson MP was elected deputy leader of the Labour Party and Michael Dugher MP, was given the position of shadow culture secretary.

Earlier this year, Tom Watson criticised the government’s freedom of information review, saying: “This is an Act which should be extended to cover more public bodies, yet the Government is going to weaken it by making changes that will render it virtually useless for people who believe in greater accountability.”

Labour remains supportive of the Lord Justice Leveson’s recommendations on press regulation, and the appointment of Michael Dugher as shadow culture minister would appear to be a strong signal of commitment to the Leveson process.

Commenting on his appointment on his website, Michael Dugher said: “There are serious challenges ahead and I look forward in particular to standing up for the BBC – one of the institutions that makes Britain great….Plus I will be arguing for the implementation of the Leveson proposals.”

Prior to the leader selection, both Jeremy Corbyn and Tom Watson gave their support to a pledge drafted by the Media Reform Coalition, which was in keeping with the Labour Party Manifesto. Mr Corbyn said: “The work being done by the Media Reform Coalition and others is vital in pushing for media plurality which this country is so desperately in need of.”

Roy Greenslade: Twitter has its uses, but now Jeremy Corbyn needs the newspapers
http://www.standard.co.uk/business/roy-greenslade-twitter-has-its-uses-but-now-jeremy-corbyn-needs-the-newspapers-a2948966.html 

Michael Dugher replaces Chris Bryant as Shadow Culture Secretary (Guardian): http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/sep/14/michael-dugher-replaces-chris-bryant-as-shadow-culture-secretary