Jeremy Corbyn has gone through 63 shadow cabinet ministers in 17 months – more than Ed Miliband and David Cameron in five years
Resignations from his top team over Article 50 force the Labour leader into his fourth reshuffle so far
SHAMBOLIC Jeremy Corbyn has already gone through more Shadow Cabinet members than Ed Miliband had in five years.
The Labour leader has been forced into his fourth reshuffle in 17 months following the resignation of five more frontbenchers over Article 50.
Since he was elected party boss, a total of 63 people have served in Mr Corbyn's ever-changing top team, including full shadow cabinet ministers and those who attend shadow cabinet, .
His predecessor Mr Miliband had a total of 46 when he was Labour leader from 2010 to 2015.
David Cameron had 42 in his shadow cabinet during his time as Leader of the Opposition from 2005 to 2010.
More than a third of the parliamentary party have now served in Mr Corbyn's shadow ministerial team since September 2015.
And the number is now only two short of the total Mr Cameron had in his top team over his whole 11 years as Tory leader.
Last night Mr Corbyn added three new faces to his Shadow Cabinet and a fourth MP was moved to a different post.
Rebecca Long-Bailey was made the new shadow business secretary after Clive Lewis quit on Wednesday to vote against his party on a Bill to start EU divorce talks.
Peter Dowd comes into the top team to replace Ms Long-Bailey as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Sue Hayman will replace Rachael Maskell in the Environment brief, and Christina Rees replaces Jo Stevens as shadow Welsh Secretary.
Ms Rees and Ms Hayman both nominated Owen Smith in his unsuccessful challenge to Mr Corbyn's leadership last year.
No replacement has yet been announced for Dawn Butler, who quit the junior post of shadow equalities minister.
Mr Corbyn said last night: “I’m pleased to announce appointments to Labour’s shadow cabinet. We have a wealth of talent in our party and the strength of our shadow team will develop Labour’s alternative plan to rebuild and transform Britain, so that no one and no community is left behind.”
The Labour leader, who has struggled to fill front bench posts in the past, is expected to decide not to sack 14 rebel MPs who defied the whip on Article 50 on Wednesday.
It would be a humiliating blow for his authority just days after he was forced to deny rumours he was planning to stand down.