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Shadow Cabinet of Neil Kinnock

Neil Kinnock was Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition from 2 October 1983 to 18 July 1992. He convincingly defeated Roy Hattersley, Eric Heffer, and Peter Shore in the 1983 leadership election, which was prompted by Michael Foot's resignation following the disastrous general election result earlier that year. Kinnock's period as Leader encompassed the bulk of the Thatcher premiership and the first two years of the Major premiership. Kinnock resigned in 1992 after losing his second election as Leader.

Kinnock Shadow Cabinet

2 October 1983

18 July 1992

Official Opposition

209 / 650 (32%)
(1983)
229 / 651 (35%)
(1987)
271 / 651 (42%)
(1992)

Shadow Foreign Secretary

Denis Healey

Shadow Home Secretary

Gerald Kaufman

Shadow Attorney General and principal frontbench spokesman for Legal Affairs

John Morris

Shadow Lord Chancellor

The Lord Elwyn-Jones

Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords

The Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords

The Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede

Kinnock announced his first Shadow Cabinet on 31 October 1983.[1]

Shadow Foreign Secretary

Denis Healey

Shadow Home Secretary

Gerald Kaufman

Shadow Minister for Europe and Campaign co-ordinator

Robin Cook

Shadow Attorney General and principal frontbench spokesman for Legal Affairs

John Morris

Shadow Lord Chancellor

The Lord Elwyn-Jones

Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords

The Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords

The Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede

Shadow Foreign Secretary

Gerald Kaufman

Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and Campaign co-ordinator

Frank Dobson

Shadow Attorney General and principal frontbench spokesman for Legal Affairs

John Morris

Shadow Lord Chancellor

The Lord Elwyn-Jones

Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords

The Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords

The Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede

Shadow Foreign Secretary

Gerald Kaufman

Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and Campaign co-ordinator

Jack Cunningham

– Shadow Minister for Children

Joan Lestor

Shadow Attorney General and principal frontbench spokesman for Legal Affairs

John Morris

Shadow Lord Chancellor

The Lord Elwyn-Jones

Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords

The Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords

The Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede

Second Thatcher ministry

Third Thatcher ministry

First Major ministry

Shadow Cabinet of John Smith