Lisa Nandy has resigned from her position as shadow energy secretary as opposition to Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party continues to grow.
She has since been replaced by Brent North MP Barry Gardiner, who served alongside Nandy in the shadow DECC team and is a popular voice in the energy and climate change debate.
An MP for nearly 20 years, Gardiner has considerable ministerial experience having held appointments at the Home Office, Northern Ireland Office, Department of Trade and Industry and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Gardiner has also been a prominent campaigner for environmental issues during his time in government. He served as former Labour leader Ed Miliband’s special envoy for environment and climate change between 2011 and 2013.
His appointment to Corbyn’s frontbench team followed rumours circulating on social media yesterday evening that the Green Party MP Caroline Lucas was being lined up to take on the role.
Rumour that Green MP Caroline Lucas being lined up as the 'surprising name' as shadow energy secretary.
— Ned Simons (@nedsimons) June 27, 2016
Lucas was originally linked to the position when Corbyn was assembling his first shadow chabinet in September last year, however the Green Party MP swiftly denied the rumours yesterday evening. Lucas is herself vying to become co-leader of the Green Party following Natalie Bennett's resignation earlier this year.
Nandy was handed the frontbench role last year as Corbyn assembled his first shadow cabinet, however the result of last week’s Brexit referendum, and his perceived weakness on the issue, has resulted in a vote of no confidence and a mass walkout from frontbench MPs.
Nandy’s resignation follows shadow DECC also losing Clive Lewis, who was promoted to shadow defence secretary by Corbyn earlier this morning.
The Wigan MP has been strongly linked with the Labour leadership and has been the bookmaker’s favourite to succeed Corbyn in recent months, however Nandy is understood to have distanced herself from the role and is keen for Tom Watson to assume the deputy leadership until a formal contest can be achieved.
Lisa Nandy will stand against Corbyn, Labour source tells me.
— George Eaton (@georgeeaton) June 27, 2016
Nandy’s resignation and Lewis’ promotion leave the shadow DECC team comprising just Barry Gardiner and Alan Whitehead at a crucial time with the fifth carbon budget due to be legislated for this week.
The Committee on Climate Change has called for the government to legislate for that carbon budget by the end of June.