Sarah Champion given new cabinet post by Corbyn

The first ever female MP for Rotherham, Sarah Champion previously occupied the role of shadow minister for preventing abuse and domestic violence, a role she returned to after resigning in June, following a vote of no confidence against current leader Jeremy Corbyn.

After her appointment today, she said: "I became an MP to make a difference. I’ve spent years fighting for women and equalities and this appointment is a great honour.

Labour’s continuing work in this area is more vital now than ever before. Our country is becoming more divided and less equal. 85% of all Tory cuts have been at the expense of women. One in four young gay people experience homophobic bullying online. There has been a rapid increase in rates of domestic violence and violence against women in the last six years. Disabled people are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as non-disabled people.

This government talks the talk on equality but has failed time and time again to deliver. I intend to hold them to account on their empty promises.”

Champion was first elected to Parliament in the 2012 Rotherham by-election. She is joined in the Labour Shadow Cabinet by four other 'extremely talented women' appointed by Leader Jeremy Corbyn today. It means that for the first time in the Labour Party's history two out of the three 'great offices of state' will be shadowed by women.