From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
Shadow Home Secretary
British interior spokesperson of the official opposition
British interior spokesperson of the official opposition
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| post | Shadow Home Secretary |
| image | Official portrait of Chris Philp MP, 2024.jpg |
| incumbent | Chris Philp |
| incumbentsince | 5 November 2024 |
| appointer | Leader of the Opposition |
| inaugural | Kenneth Younger |
| formation | 15 July 1955 |
In British politics, the shadow home secretary (formally known as the shadow secretary of state for the home department) is the person within the shadow cabinet who shadows the home secretary; this effectively means scrutinising government policy on home affairs including policing, national security, and matters of citizenship. The shadow home secretary also formerly had responsibility for the criminal justice system and the prison service; these responsibilities are now held by the shadow justice secretary. If the opposition party is elected to government, the Shadow Home Secretary often becomes the new Home Secretary, though this is not always the case. The office is currently held by Chris Philp, a member of the Conservative shadow cabinet.
In recent decades, the positions of home secretary and shadow home secretary have alternated between the Conservative and Labour parties. The corresponding position for the Liberal Democrats is the Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson.
List of shadow home secretaries
| Name | Portrait | Entered office | Left office | Party | Shadow Cabinet | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}; border-bottom:solid 1px " height=30 | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenneth Younger | [[File:3x4.svg | 60px]] | 15 July 1955 | 24 January 1958 | Labour | Attlee | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gaitskell | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patrick Gordon-Walker | [[File:Patrick Gordon Walker.jpg | 60px]] | 24 January 1958 | 30 November 1961 | Labour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| George Brown | [[File:George Brown, 1967.jpg | 60px]] | 30 November 1961 | 16 October 1964 | Labour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wilson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Henry Brooke | [[File:Henry Brooke 1950.jpg | 60px]] | 16 October 1964 | 29 October 1964 | Conservative | Douglas-Home | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Edward Boyle | [[File:3x4.svg | 60px]] | 29 October 1964 | 16 February 1965 | Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Thorneycroft | [[File:Peter Thorneycroft cropped.png | 60px]] | 16 February 1965 | 13 April 1966 | Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Heath | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quintin Hogg | [[File:Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham Allan Warren.jpg | 60px | Quintin Hogg]] | 13 April 1966 | 18 June 1970 | Conservative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James Callaghan | [[File:James Callaghan 1970 (cropped).jpg | 60px]] | 18 June 1970 | 19 October 1971 | Labour | Wilson II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shirley Williams | [[File:Shirley Williams, 1984.jpg | 60px | Shirley Williams]] | 19 October 1971 | 25 November 1973 | Labour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roy Jenkins | [[File:Roy Jenkins 1977b.jpg | 60px | Roy Jenkins]] | 25 November 1973 | 4 March 1974 | Labour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Robert Carr | [[File:Robert Carr2.jpg | 60px]] | 4 March 1974 | 11 March 1974 | Conservative | Heath II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jim Prior | [[File:3x4.svg | 60px]] | 11 March 1974 | 12 June 1974 | Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Keith Joseph | [[File:Sir Keith Joseph visits Llangefni and Caernarfon (1469270) Crop (cropped).jpg | 80x80px]] | 12 June 1974 | 11 February 1975 | Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ian Gilmour | [[File:3x4.svg | 60px]] | 18 February 1975 | 15 January 1976 | Conservative | Thatcher | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| William Whitelaw | [[File:3x4.svg | 60px]] | 11 April 1976 | 4 May 1979 | Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Merlyn Rees | [[File:Merlyn Rees appearing on After Dark , 16 July 1988 - (cropped).jpg | 60px]] | 4 May 1979 | 4 November 1980 | Labour | Callaghan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roy Hattersley | [[File:Roy Hattersley delivering his speech (6218291423) (cropped).jpg | 80x80px | Roy Hattersley]] | 4 November 1980 | 31 October 1983 | Labour | Foot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gerald Kaufman | [[File:Kaufman.JPG | 60px | Gerald Kaufman]] | 31 October 1983 | 13 July 1987 | Labour | Kinnock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roy Hattersley | [[File:Roy Hattersley 2012 cropped 2.jpg | 60px | Roy Hattersley]] | 13 July 1987 | 24 July 1992 | Labour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tony Blair | [[File:Tony Blair in 1995.jpg | 80x80px | Tony Blair]] | 24 July 1992 | 21 July 1994 | Labour | Smith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Beckett | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jack Straw | [[File:Jack Straw.jpg | 81x81px | Jack Straw]] | 20 October 1994 | 2 May 1997 | Labour | Blair | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael Howard | [[File:Michael Howard as Home Secretary.jpg | 80x80px]] | 2 May 1997 | 11 June 1997 | Conservative | Major | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brian Mawhinney | [[File:3x4.svg | 60px]] | 11 June 1997 | 2 June 1998 | Conservative | Hague | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Norman Fowler | [[File:Meeting with the Chairman of the UK Conservative Party at the EP in Strasbourg (cropped).jpg | 80x80px]] | 2 June 1998 | 15 June 1999 | Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ann Widdecombe | [[File:Ann Widdecombe as a Minister of State.jpg | 79x79px]] | 15 June 1999 | 18 September 2001 | Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oliver Letwin | [[File:Oliver Letwin Official.jpg | 60px | Oliver Letwin]] | 18 September 2001 | 10 November 2003 | Conservative | Duncan Smith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David Davis | [[File:David Davis (cropped).jpg | 79x79px | David Davis]] | 10 November 2003 | 12 June 2008 | Conservative | Howard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cameron | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Dominic Grieve | [[File:Dominic Grieve.jpg | 89x89px | Dominic Grieve]] | 12 June 2008 | 19 January 2009 | Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Chris Grayling | [[File:Chris Grayling.JPG | 75x75px | Chris Grayling]] | 19 January 2009 | 6 May 2010 | Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alan Johnson | [[File:THE Rt Hon. ALAN JOHNSON MP (cropped).jpg | 80x80px]] | 12 May 2010 | 8 October 2010 | Labour | Harman I | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ed Balls | [[File:Ed Balls cropped.png | 89x89px]] | 8 October 2010 | 20 January 2011 | Labour | Miliband | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yvette Cooper | [[File:Yvette Cooper (5257912377) (tightcrop).jpg | 89x89px]] | 20 January 2011 | 14 September 2015 | Labour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Harman II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Andy Burnham | [[File:Andy Burnham, 2016 Labour Party Conference 1 (cropped).jpg | 77x77px]] | 14 September 2015 | 6 October 2016 | Labour | Corbyn | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diane Abbott | [[File:Official portrait of Ms Diane Abbott crop 2.jpg | 60px]] | 6 October 2016 | 5 April 2020 | Labour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nick Thomas-Symonds | [[File:Official portrait of Nick Thomas-Symonds MP (cropped).jpg | 79x79px]] | 5 April 2020 | 29 November 2021 | Labour | Starmer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| title=Labour reshuffle: Yvette Cooper becomes shadow home secretary | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59461674 | work=BBC News | date=30 November 2021}} | [[File:Official portrait of Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP crop 2.jpg | 60px]] | 29 November 2021 | 5 July 2024 | Labour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James Cleverly | [[File:Official portrait of James Cleverly MP crop 2, 2024.jpg | 60px]] | 8 July 2024 | 5 November 2024 | Conservative | Sunak | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chris Philp | [[File:Official portrait of Chris Philp MP crop 2, 2024.jpg | 60px]] | 5 November 2024 | Incumbent | Conservative | Badenoch |
References
References
- (24 January 1958). "Shadow Cabinet Changes". The Glasgow Herald.
- (30 November 1961). "Wilson - Foreign Spokesman". Evening Times.
- (1973). "Front-bench opposition; the role of the Leader of the Opposition, the Shadow Cabinet and Shadow Government in British politics". London.
- (29 October 1964). "Sir Alec Picks His Front Bench". The Glasgow Herald.
- (17 February 1965). "Sir Alec Reshuffles Shadow Cabinet". The Glasgow Herald.
- (12 March 1974). "Barber Prepares to Quit". The Glasgow Herald.
- (12 June 1974). "Whitelaw takes on key Tory post". The Glasgow Herald.
- "Miss Ann Widdecombe". UK Parliament.
- "Sir Oliver Letwin". UK Parliament.
- "Mr David Davis". UK Parliament.
- "Mr Dominic Grieve". UK Parliament.
- "Chris Grayling". UK Parliament.
- "Alan Johnson". UK Parliament.
- "Ed Balls". UK Parliament.
- "Yvette Cooper". UK Parliament.
- "Andy Burnham". UK Parliament.
- "Ms Diane Abbott". UK Parliament.
- (7 October 2016). "Labour reshuffle: Diane Abbott made shadow home secretary". BBC News.
- "Nick Thomas-Symonds". UK Parliament.
- (30 November 2021). "Labour reshuffle: Yvette Cooper becomes shadow home secretary". BBC News.
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about Shadow Home Secretary — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report