Divisions between the opposition’s shadow ministers and their leader Jeremy Corbyn have finally surfaced. Gossip has been echoing through Westminster corridors all week. Corbyn’s cabinet update has been dubbed the “revenge reshuffle”. The first casualty was Michael Dugher, Shadow Culture Secretary, who was allegedly dismissed over the telephone. Dugher has refreshed his Twitter profile with “Sacked by Jeremy Corbyn for too much straight talking, honest politics”. Next to go was Pat McFadden, the Shadow Europe Minister, apparently for asking David Cameron “Can I ask the PM to reject the view that sees terrorist acts as always being a reaction to what we in the West do?” Dissonant views have been voiced on foreign policy, defence and national security. Three opposition frontbenchers resigned in support of McFadden, including Stephen Doughty on live television. The appointment of Corbyn loyalist, socialist MP Emily Thornberry as Shadow Defence Secretary has provoked Conservatives to say that Labour is a “threat to national security”. Tax credits, climate change and the EU are other issues where the Labour leader and his original handpicked team have divergence of opinions. Hilary Benn, Shadow Foreign Secretary, has been retained in spite of his differences with Corbyn over Syria. This might be because he would be a greater threat if not securely gagged in the Shadow Cabinet. Benn has agreed not to disagree with Corbyn in public.
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