Marra unveils shadow team with ties to wider party – Daily Business

Michael Marra: we need more serious thinking (pic: DB Media Services)

Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra has named his Shadow Cabinet who, for the first time, will be supported by MPs and councillors to increase collaboration across the party. These appointments will be made in the coming weeks.

Each team will be asked to consider the long-term policy questions within their briefs and specifically “the challenges posed by demographic change, technological change, and climate change”. 

Notable appointments are an additional role supporting Mr Marra for Economy spokesman Daniel Johnson, and Joe Fagan, who contested the leadership, being handed the finance brief.

Mr Marra’s decision to bolster his Holyrood team with external support will be seen as an attempt to forge closer ties with the London party, despite calls from some for Scottish Labour to adopt a more distinct identity.

As MSPs return on Monday from the October recess, Scottish Labour will become the official opposition following the resignation of Amanda Bland from Reform UK, leaving the party one seat behind Labour’s 17.

Mr Marra said: “Scottish politics since May’s election has been too focused on gimmicks and stunts – Scotland faces huge challenges in the short and medium term but MSPs from some parties have been pursuing issues completely disconnected from people’s lives chasing social media likes and easy headlines.

“We need a better quality of debate at Holyrood and more serious thinking.

“We will take our role as the official opposition in Holyrood seriously – holding the SNP to account on their record and working to get the best deal for Scotland, using our influence where we can to deliver results for people.

“That’s why we will draw in all the talent from across the Scottish Labour party for our teams, including our MPs and councillors, to shape and influence our thinking around the major long-term challenges facing our country across demographic change, climate change and technological change.”

Shadow Cabinet

Scottish Labour Leader – Michael Marra

Shadow Minister for Parliamentary Business – Claire Baker

Political Secretary to the Leader – Daniel Johnson

Finance and Public Service Reform

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance – Joe Fagan

Shadow Minister for Public Service Reform and Local Government – Carol Mochan

Education

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic – Katherine Sangster

Shadow Minister for Innovation, Technology, Skills and Tertiary Education (working across Education and Economy portfolios) – Jenny Young

Health

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care and Scottish Labour Deputy Leader – Jackie Baillie

Shadow Minister for Community Care and Mental Wellbeing – Joe Long

Shadow Minister for Public Health and Sport – Irshad Ahmed

Monica Lennon will lead on the development of a state of the nation report on Women’s Health

Justice

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice – Pauline McNeill

Energy Security, Climate, and Transport

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Climate Action and Transport – Paul Sweeney

Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, Agriculture, Marine and the Islands – Donald MacKinnon

Social Justice and Housing

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing – Mark Griffin

Shadow Minister for Equalities and International Development – Claire Baker

Economy

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy – Daniel Johnson

Shadow Minister for Innovation, Technology, Skills and Tertiary Education (working across Education and Economy portfolios) – Jenny Young

Constitution, Europe and External Affairs

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, Europe and External Affairs – Neil Bibby

Cross-Portfolio

Violence Against Women and Girls – Katy Clark

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