Marsha de Cordova quits Keir Starmer’s shadow Cabinet weeks before Labour conference ‘to focus on holding Commons seat’
Keir Starmer suffered a blow today as an MP quit his shadow cabinet just weeks before party conference.
Equalities Secretary Marsha de Cordova said she was resigning to concentrate on her ‘marginal’ Commons constituency.
The Battersea MP insisted she would still be supporting Sir Keir and was taking the decision ‘with much sadness’.
But it will still be a blow for the leader, who has been trying to get on the front foot after a difficult first year and a half in charge.
Ms de Cordova won the south London seat from the Tories in 2017 and held it with an increased majority of 5,668 in 2019.
Sy het gese: ‘It has been an immense privilege to serve as the shadow women and equalities secretary for the past 17 maande.
Equalities Secretary Marsha de Cordova said she was resigning to concentrate on her ‘marginal’ Commons constituency
‘It therefore comes with much sadness that I am resigning with immediate effect.
‘Having only been elected in 2017 for the historically marginal constituency of Battersea, I would like to focus more of my time and efforts on the people of Battersea.
‘I will continue to support Keir Starmer from the backbenches.’
Sir Keir said: ‘I would like to thank Marsha de Cordova for her service and in particular her work highlighting the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on black, Asiatiese, minority ethnic and disabled people.
‘Marsha has also laid the foundations for a new Race Equality Act that Labour would introduce to tackle the structural inequalities which have existed in our society for too long.’
The timing of the resignation will raise eyebrows in Westminster, with Labour’s autumn conference due to begin on September 25
The departure is a blow for Keir Starmer (pictured at the TUC today), who has been trying to get on the front foot after a difficult first year and a half in charge
