ELLESMERE Port and Neston MP Justin Madders has a new role within the Shadow Cabinet.

The MP said he was "delighted" to become the Shadow Minister for Employment Rights and Protection/Future of Work, as part of a Cabinet reshuffle by party leader Sir Keir Starmer.

It is a role which will see him work with Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Industrial Strategy, Jonathan Reynolds, as well as deputy party leader Angela Rayner.

Since being elected in 2015, Mr Madders had been part of the Shadow Health team after being appointed to that role in September by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn following the latter's election as party leader.

Mr Madders resigned from the role as Labour health spokesman in March 2019 after defying a party whip on a Brexit vote. At that time, he voted against an amendment to have a public referendum on then-Prime Minister Theresa May's deal.

He returned to the Shadow Health Team when Sir Keir Starmer was elected Labour leader in 2020.

Writing on social media, Mr Madders said: "Am delighted to become Shadow Minister for Employment Rights and Protection/Future Of Work under Jonathan Reynolds and Angela Rayner.

"The importance of workplace protections and substantially improving on them will be central to a future Labour Government.

"There is no doubt that the workplace settlement this country has is unfair with too many people forced into exploitative and/or precarious jobs.

"The great work done by Andy McDonald has meant we have the most ambitious plans ever for rebalancing this.

"I aim to build on that and highlight the real difference these plans will make to people's lives – we are the party of labour and workplace fairness should be core to any future Labour Government.

"I am sad after six years (minus a short break) to be leaving the Shadow Health Team which was superbly led by Jon Ashworth during hugely testing times for the NHS.

"I am sure that Wes Streeting will do a fantastic job highlighting the Tories' failings in health and social care."