Clive Lewis moved from defence brief in Jeremy Corbyn top team shake up

Clive Lewis speaking in the House of Commons PA Wire Archant

Jeremy Corbyn has removed the shadow defence secretary brief from Clive Lewis in the aftermath of a high-profile dispute over Labour’s policy on Trident at last month’s party conference.

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The Norwich MP has been given the role of shadow business secretary as the Labour leader reshaped his top team following his re-election with an increased majority.

A key section of Mr Lewis’ Labour conference speech was altered by an aide to Jeremy Corbyn as he sat on the stage.

He had been due to say that he would not seek to change Labour’s policy of supporting the renewal of Trident, but Mr Corbyn’s strategy and communications chief Seumas Milne altered the words at the last minute.

Mr Corbyn is a long-standing campaigner for nuclear disarmament and opposes the renewal of the Trident system.

But in Liverpool Mr Lewis said that while he was “sceptical” about Trident renewal, he was clear that party policy was for Trident renewal.”

Shami Chakrabarti, the former Liberty director who carried out a controversial investigation into anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, has been appointed to the shadow cabinet as part of the reshuffle.

Mr Corbyn also handed a major promotion to his long-time ally Diane Abbott, making her shadow home secretary.

In a surprise move, the Labour leader made veteran Nick Brown - a long-standing ally of former leader Gordon Brown - chief whip, replacing Rosie Winterton.

The Labour leader described Mr Lewis as a “dynamic MP” in a short statement welcoming him to the new post.

While Mr Lewis said: “I am delighted to accept the role of shadow business secretary. This is one of the most challenging times for our country, and I want to set out policies that are central to Labour’s vision for 21st Century socialism.”