{{Short description|Former political office in the UK Shadow Cabinet}} {{Use dmy dates|date = April 2020}} {{Use British English|date=April 2020}} {{Infobox Political post |post = Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union |body = |nativename = |department = |image = |alt = |status = ''Abolished'' |style = |residence = |nominator = |nominatorpost = |appointer = Leader of the Opposition |appointerpost = |termlength = |inaugural = Emily Thornberry |formation = {{Start date|2016|07|20|df=yes}} |last = Sir Keir Starmer |abolished = 4 April 2020 |succession = |deputy = |salary = |website = [https://members.parliament.uk/opposition/cabinet] }}
In British politics, the '''Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union''', or informally '''Shadow Brexit Secretary''',<ref>{{cite web |title=Who's who in the Labour shadow cabinet? |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2016/10/who-s-who-labour-shadow-cabinet |work=New Statesman |date=14 October 2016 |access-date=21 June 2017}}</ref> was a position within the opposition's shadow cabinet that dealt with issues surrounding the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. The position was only ever a part of Jeremy Corbyn's Shadow Cabinet between 2016 and 2020.
Keir Starmer held the position between October 2016 and April 2020, although the position became unusual, as the Department for Exiting the European Union was abolished on 31 January 2020, so there was no Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union to shadow. The shadow Brexit secretary's position was formally abolished on 4 April 2020, following Starmer's election as leader of the Labour Party.
During the period when this position existed, several shadow ministers for Brexit also served in the opposition's shadow cabinet and often deputised for the Shadow Secretary of State.
==List of Shadow Secretaries of State for Exiting the European Union== {| class="wikitable" style="width:60%;" ! colspan=2|Name ! width=60|Portrait ! colspan=2|Term of office ! Political party ! Leader |- !style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | |Emily Thornberry |92x92px |20 July 2016 |6 October 2016 | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Labour}} | Jeremy Corbyn |- !style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | |Keir Starmer |60px |6 October 2016 |4 April 2020 |}
== List of Shadow Ministers for Exiting the European Union == Three shadow ministers were appointed by Jeremy Corbyn in October 2016. Matthew Pennycook resigned in September 2019 in order to attempt to stop Brexit.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/matthew-pennycook-labour-mp-resigns-as-brexit-minister-to-focus-efforts-on-campaigning-for-remain-a4246781.html|title=Shadow Brexit Minister quits to 'focus efforts' on Remain campaigning|date=2019-09-25|website=Evening Standard|language=en|access-date=2020-04-09}}</ref> Jenny Chapman was one of the Red Wall MPs to be defeated in Boris Johnson's landslide victory in the 2019 general election, losing her seat of Darlington, County Durham to the Conservative candidate Peter Gibson.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/candidates-standing-darlington-seat-general-17334916|title=General Election: Tories gain Darlington for first time since 92|last=Brown|first=Mike|date=2019-12-13|website=gazettelive|access-date=2020-04-09}}</ref> Chapman was replaced by Thangam Debbonaire in January 2020. The position was abolished when Keir Starmer was elected Labour Leader in April 2020. {| class="wikitable" style="width:60%;" ! colspan="2" |Name ! width="60" |Portrait ! colspan="2" |Term of office ! Political party ! Leader |- ! style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | |Jenny Chapman |frameless|97x97px |9 October 2016<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://labourlist.org/2016/10/corbyn-reveals-21-frontbench-appointments/|title=Corbyn appoints 21 frontbenchers|date=2016-10-09|website=LabourList|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-04-09}}</ref> |6 November 2019 | rowspan="4" {{Party shading/Labour}} |Labour | rowspan="4" {{Party shading/Labour}} |Jeremy Corbyn |- ! style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | |Matthew Pennycook |frameless|97x97px |9 October 2016<ref name=":1" /> |25 September 2019<ref name=":0" /> |- ! style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | |Paul Blomfield |frameless|97x97px |9 October 2016<ref name=":1" /> |4 April 2020 |- ! style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | |Thangam Debbonaire |frameless|97x97px |7 January 2020<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/brexit-keir-starmer-labour-thangam-3711597|title=A Bristol MP has been promoted to the Labour front bench|last=Rogers|first=Alexandra|date=2020-01-07|website=bristolpost|access-date=2020-04-09}}</ref> |4 April 2020 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{UK Parliament Opposition Cabinet Offices}}
Category:British trade policy Category:Brexit Category:Official Opposition (United Kingdom) Category:2016 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:2020 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Category:United Kingdom–European Union relations Category:Consequences of the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum Category:Keir Starmer
{{UK-poli-stub}}