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Shami Chakrabarti was made shadow attorney general tonight as Jeremy Corbyn kicked off a major reshuffle of his top team.

The top human rights lawyer was awarded the job in a major promotion that has seen her soar from non-member to shadow minister in just five months.

In July she released a major report that concluded Labour was "not overrun by antisemitism, Islamophobia or other forms of racism".

The former Liberty director was forced to defend her independence after joining Labour on the day she began her inquiry. She said she joined because it was important to carry out the review “for and in the best interests" of Labour.

Mr Corbyn then gave her a seat in the House of Lords weeks after it finished.

Jewish groups branded the inquiry a "whitewash" but Ms Chakrabarti said: "I stand by the report. There was nothing remotely transactional about this."

Tonight Mr Corbyn said: "As a former barrister and Director of Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti will bring a wealth of experience to her role as Shadow Attorney General."

(Image: Getty Images)

Ms Chakrabarti added in a statement: "It is an enormous privilege to take up the post of Shadow Attorney General in Jeremy Corbyn ’s new team.

"I hope to follow in a great tradition of law officers on both sides of the aisle who have defended rights, freedoms and the Rule of Law."

The post had been left vacant as Mr Corbyn struggled to find enough loyal MPs following a 172-40 no confidence vote.

The Labour leader began his reshuffle tonight after returning to the leadership with a landslide 62% of the vote.

In the biggest promotion Diane Abbott was made Shadow Home Secretary, replacing Andy Burnham who quit to concentrate on the race to be Greater Manchester Mayor.

It is the third promotion in a year for the close ally of Jeremy Corbyn and places her in one of Labour's most powerful jobs.

(Image: Leon Neal)

Labour leader Mr Corbyn said the appointment meant for the first time, two of the four 'great offices of state' are shadowed by women.

The other of the four 'great offices' - leader, Chancellor, Home and Foreign Secretaries - is already taken by Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry.

Sarah Champion, who made one of 63 frontbench resignations in a few days after the EU referendum , agreed to return to the fold as shadow women and equalities minister.

She takes over from Angela Rayner, who was having to do the job alongside being Shadow Education Secretary.

She tweeted just one word when Mr Corbyn announced her appointment on the social network: "Wow!"

Later she added: "Delighted to be new Shadow Minister for women & equalities. Women worst hit by Tory austerity, equality at all time low. This must change!"

(Image: REUTERS)

Jo Stevens was promoted from Shadow Solicitor General to Shadow Welsh Secretary, replacing 81-year-old Paul Flynn.

But Mr Flynn will still keep his seat on the front bench - because he was also doubling up jobs as Shadow Leader of the Commons.

Dawn Butler, a backbench MP who was an assistant whip under Gordon Brown but had not served in Jeremy Corbyn 's top team, was promoted to Shadow Minister for Black and Minority Ethnic Communities.

The promotion means five members of the top team are from ethnic minorities. Mr Corbyn said this was the most ever of any shadow cabinet or cabinet.

Mr Corbyn vowed to extend the olive branch to previously hostile MPs - even growing one outside his office - in a bid to reunite the party after he returned to the leadership with a landslide 62% of the vote.

But he angered some at the first hurdle tonight by sacking chief whip Rosie Winterton and replacing her with backbencher Nick Brown - who was a chief whip under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Vocal Corbyn critic Michael Dugher tweeted: "Rosie has been a superbly able chief whip in such challenging circumstances: respected, loyal & a unifier + a real people person. Big loss."

Neil Coyle added: "There were plenty spaces to fill in Shadow Cabinet if Nick Brown wanted one. Sacking unifying Chief Whip shows 'reaching out' meant nothing."