The Labour Party has appointed Rachael Maskell as its new shadow environment secretary, replacing Kerry McCarthy, who resigned yesterday in protest at Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership during the referendum campaign.
Maskell is MP for York Central, and previously served as shadow minister for armed forces personnel and veterans. She entered parliament at last year’s general election.
Her predecessor McCarthy was one of 12 shadow cabinet members to step down on Sunday - while a further group tendered their resignations this morning, with more expected to follow - in protest at the Labour leader’s lacklustre campaign to remain in the EU.
McCarthy, whose appointment last year as shadow Defra secretary was criticised by some in the farming sector due to her veganism and related beliefs, had campaigned to remain in the EU and said the Labour Party now required “strong leadership” as the UK faced the “challenge of renegotiating our future relationship with the rest of Europe”.
Corbyn faced increasing pressure to resign on Monday morning, with Labour deputy leader Tom Watson warning him he faced a leadership challenge and a long line of party big hitters calling on him to step down. However, the veteran left-winger has pledged to fight any new leadership challenge.
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