Article: David Styles | Image: Tracy Brabin © Parliament (CC-BY 3.0)
Having been promoted from a shadow ministerial role at the Department of Education, Tracy Brabin MP has taken over as Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from Labour’s former deputy leader Tom Watson.
Tracy Brabin, Labour and Co-operative MP for Batley and Spen in West Yorkshire, has been appointed the new shadow culture secretary following a post-election reshuffle on the Labour front bench.
Tom Watson, who had served in the role since 2016, stood down prior to December’s general election.
Brabin says she is aware that Watson’s shoes are “big ones to fill” and that she is “looking forward to working with DCMS stakeholders” along with holding the Government to account.
Looking forward to working with DCMS stakeholders as well as holding Govt to account in the months ahead.
I've always been open about my love for culture – so very proud!
My thanks to @jeremycorbyn for the opportunity and know @tom_watson's shoes are big ones to fill. https://t.co/Bf2ChiO9JM— Tracy Brabin WY 🌹 (@TracyBrabin) January 7, 2020
Brabin’s counterpart across the despatch box is Nicky Morgan, re-appointed to the role of culture secretary despite standing down as an MP like Tom Watson at the end of 2019.
Shadow culture secretaries
Incumbents of the role since Labour lost power in 2010 have been:
Ben Bradshaw
Ivan Lewis
Harriet Harman
Chris Bryant
Michael Dugher
Maria Eagle
Kelvin Hopkins
Tom Watson
Tracy Brabin
The length of Brabin’s tenure will very much be dependent on the plans of the next Labour leader, with the party’s election to decide Jeremy Corbyn’s successor scheduled for early April.
