- UK Shadow Cabinet 1997
The UK Shadow Cabinet (see also
Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (UK) ) was appointed by Conservative Party leaderJohn Major . Following the party's defeat in the 1997 general election, Major announced his resignation as leader. However, for logistical reasons, a new leader could not be elected for several weeks. In the intervening period, Major appointed an interim Shadow Cabinet.The Shadow Cabinet was based on Major's final Cabinet. However, as seven Cabinet Ministers had lost their seats in the general election and another had not contested his seat, there were several vacancies. These were largely filled by either Major himself or by the relevant superior minister in the outgoing Cabinet.
The position of Shadow
Secretary of State for Scotland was not filled as the Conservatives had lost all their Scottish MPs in the election.Michael Howard andWilliam Hague were given joint responsibility for Constitutional Affairs with the brief to handle the devolution legislation.hadow Cabinet (
2 May 1997 -11 June 1997 )*
John Major —Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition ,Leader of the British Conservative Party , ShadowSecretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs & ShadowSecretary of State for Defence
*Michael Heseltine — Shadow Deputy Prime Minister & ShadowChancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
*Kenneth Clarke — ShadowChancellor of the Exchequer , ShadowChief Secretary to the Treasury & ShadowSecretary of State for Trade and Industry andPresident of the Board of Trade
*Michael Howard — Shadow ShadowSecretary of State for the Home Department & Constitutional Affairs Spokesman
*Stephen Dorrell — ShadowSecretary of State for Health
*Gillian Shephard — ShadowSecretary of State for Education and Employment
*Sir George Young — ShadowSecretary of State for Transport
*William Hague — ShadowSecretary of State for Wales & Constitutional Affairs Spokesman
*Douglas Hogg — ShadowMinister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
*Lord Mackay of Clashfern — ShadowLord Chancellor
*John Gummer — ShadowSecretary of State for the Environment
*Virginia Bottomley — ShadowSecretary of State for National Heritage
*Viscount Cranborne — ShadowLeader of the House of Lords
*Brian Mawhinney —Chairman of the Conservative Party
*Alastair Goodlad —Opposition Chief Whip
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