Nia Griffith appointed Labour shadow Welsh secretary

Image caption, Nia Griffith is the MP for Llanelli

6 April 2020

Nia Griffith has been named Labour's shadow Welsh secretary.

The Llanelli MP is one of three Welsh Labour MPs in leader Keir Starmer's new shadow cabinet, following his election on Saturday.

She served as shadow defence secretary, and in the shadow Welsh brief four years ago, under Jeremy Corbyn.

Meanwhile Cardiff Central's Jo Stevens has been appointed the party's shadow digital, culture, media and sport secretary.

Torfaen MP Nick Thomas-Symonds was made shadow home secretary on Sunday.

Ed Miliband returns to Labour shadow cabinet

Christina Rees, the MP for Neath, announced earlier that she would not be returning to her job as Labour's chief frontbench spokesman on Welsh affairs in Westminster.

She had been the party's shadow Welsh Secretary since February 2017, after her predecessor Ms Stevens resigned in protest at Labour's position on Brexit.

Ms Rees said while she was sad not to be a part of the shadow cabinet, "I understand completely Keir's decision."

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John Healey was named as shadow defence secretary, taking the job held by Ms Griffith up until Monday.

Ms Griffith, who previously served as the frontbench Welsh spokesperson between 2015 and 2016, said her appointment was a "huge honour".

"At this difficult time, my priority is supporting my colleagues in Welsh Government as they respond to the enormous challenge of the coronavirus pandemic," she added.

In a tweet Ms Stevens thanked the Labour leader for the opportunity to serve as shadow secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport, "sectors I care passionately about."

She said the coronavirus crisis "makes us value even more the everyday pleasures they bring".