Shadow Cabinet of James Callaghan
# Shadow Cabinet of James Callaghan

James Callaghan became Leader of the Opposition on 4 May 1979 after losing the 1979 election and remained in that office until Michael Foot was elected Leader of the Labour Party on 2 October 1980. Callaghan named his Shadow Cabinet in June 1979, with Foot (the Deputy Leader) and the 12 elected members of the Shadow Cabinet assigned portfolios on 14 June and further appointments made on 18 June. From the opening of Parliament until that date, Callaghan's Cabinet, with a few exceptions, stayed on to shadow their former positions.

## Shadow Cabinet list

Callaghan assigned portfolios in June 1979 to the Deputy Leader and the 12 winners in the 1979 Shadow Cabinet elections.

| Portfolio | Shadow Minister |
| - | - |
| Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition Leader of the Labour Party | The Rt Hon. James Callaghan |
| Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Shadow Leader of the House of Commons | The Rt Hon. Michael Foot |
| Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer | The Rt Hon. Denis Healey |
| Shadow Foreign Secretary | The Rt Hon. Peter Shore |
| Shadow Home Secretary Shadow Minister responsible for House of Commons procedural reform | The Rt Hon. Merlyn Rees |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Defence | The Rt Hon. William Rodgers |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Energy | The Rt Hon. David Owen |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Science | Neil Kinnock |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Employment | The Rt Hon. Eric Varley |
| Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment | The Rt Hon. Roy Hattersley |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Industry | The Rt Hon. John Silkin |
| Shadow Minister for Overseas Development | The Rt Hon. Judith Hart |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Trade | The Rt Hon. John Smith |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Transport | The Rt Hon. Albert Booth |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland | The Rt Hon. Bruce Millan |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | Brynmor John |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Wales | The Rt Hon. Alec Jones |
| Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | The Rt Hon. Roy Mason |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Services | The Rt Hon. Stan Orme |
| Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords | The Rt Hon. The Lord Peart PC |
| Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Commons | The Rt Hon. Michael Cocks |
| Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords | The Rt Hon. Baroness Llewelyn-Davies of Hastoe PC |
| Shadow Lord Chancellor | The Rt Hon. The Lord Elwyn-Jones PC |
