Emily Thornberry breaks silence with three-word dig after being snubbed by Cabinet | Politics

Emily Thornberry has expressed her “regret and surprise” at being snubbed for the role of attorney general in Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet.

Ms Thornberry had served as shadow attorney general when Labor was in opposition but was not given the ministerial role after the party took power on Thursday.

Sir Keir chose to make Richard Hermer KC a peer and give him the role of attorney general instead.

In a message posted on X, formerly Twitter, Ms Thornberry said: “I am very sorry and surprised that I will not be able to continue this work in government, but I wish all my brilliant colleagues well, and I know that Richard Hermer KC – a far more accomplished lawyer than I could ever hope to be – will do an outstanding job as Attorney General.

“Nothing in the personal disappointment I feel can diminish the incredible and historic victory we all won together in the Labour movement last week, and the chance we now have to change our country for the better.”

The role of attorney general is not a Cabinet position, but Mr Hermer will attend Cabinet meetings.

In her online statement, Ms Thornberry added: “After eight and a half years uninterrupted in the Shadow Cabinet, a record of longer service than anyone else in that time, I have consistently worked to the best of my ability to keep the Labour Party together, support our candidates across the country, lead the fight against the Conservatives and make a positive case to the British people about what we would do differently, including – most recently – setting out our party’s policies to tackle all aspects of the fraud epidemic facing Britain, to support whistleblowers about sexual harassment in the workplace, to protect women in cohabitation and to treat the crime of harassment with the seriousness it deserves.”

Sir Keir Starmer has published a series of ministerial appointments this morning.

Bridget Phillipson has been appointed Minister for Women and Equalities in addition to her role as Education Secretary.

Anneliese Dodds has been appointed Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Minister for Women and Equalities. Ms Dodds will attend the Cabinet meeting.