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Jeremy Corbyn tonight strengthened his power base at the top of Labour as he reshuffled his shadow cabinet ready to "form the next government".

The Labour leader ditched powerful Tom Watson as party chairman and replaced him with key ally Ian Lavery, a former coal miner who's long been a supporter, as he rejigged his top team.

He also rejected suggestions he might bring previous critics like Chuka Umunna, Dan Jarvis and Yvette Cooper into his tent - instead leaving the line-up from before the election largely unchanged.

But he did bring back Owen Smith - the former rival Mr Corbyn soundly beat in a leadership challenge last year.

Mr Smith, who had scrutinised Tory benefit cuts in the Work and Pensions brief, will now be Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary.

The job will be crucial as Theresa May thrashes out a deal with the hard-right DUP which it's feared could harm talks to re-establish the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Mr Smith said he was "honoured" to get the job, adding: "Helping bring about peace and powersharing in Northern Ireland is one Labour's proudest achievements."

(Image: PA) (Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror) (Image: Getty)

Mr Watson was axed as chair but remains the elected deputy leader and shadow culture secretary.

One party source insisted the shake-up had nothing to do with Mr Watson's past comments on Mr Corbyn.

Giving Mr Lavery the chairman's job was about "continuing to be on a general election footing" and he was a "natural fit" for it, the source added.

But a second source suggested removing the job from Mr Watson would strengthen the leader's hand in future.

In other appointments, new MP Lesley Laird was made Shadow Scottish Secretary - just five days after joining Parliament.

The former HR worker and deputy leader of Fife Council took back Gordon Brown's old seat from the SNP with a 259 majority.

David Anderson had held the Scotland and Northern Ireland jobs at the same time until he quit Westminster ahead of the general election.

(Image: Daily Record)

Mr Lavery and Andrew Gwynne will stay on as joint campaign co-ordinators as Labour prepares for another snap election if Theresa May's government collapses.

Mr Gwynne will also serve as Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, replacing Teresa Pearce who stepped down from the top team. Ms Pearce was only ever meant to cover the role temporarily.

And Dawn Butler will serve as Shadow Minister for Diverse Communities, the role she had before quitting over her decision to vote against triggering Article 50 in February.

All other shadow cabinet roles will remain the same but more junior posts are due to be filled in due course.

(Image: Ealing Gazette/Grant Humphreys)

Mr Corbyn said: "I am delighted to announce four appointments to fill shadow cabinet vacancies. I look forward to working with the strengthened shadow cabinet as we prepare a government in waiting to carry out our manifesto for the many not the few.

"Our party is now on a permanent campaign footing in anticipation of the failure of Theresa May's attempt to establish a stable administration with the support of the DUP .

"I am therefore appointing Ian Lavery, Co-National Campaign Coordinator, to the additional role of Labour Party Chair to strengthen our campaigning and party organisation, as we prepare to contest a new general election and form the next government."

Labour's full shadow cabinet

Changed

Shadow Communities Secretary and co-campaign coordinator - Andrew Gwynne

Party chair and co-campaign coordinator - Ian Lavery

Shadow Scotland Secretary - Lesley Laird

Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary - Owen Smith

Shadow Minister for Diverse Communities - Dawn Butler

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No change

Leader of the Opposition –Jeremy Corbyn

Shadow Foreign Secretary – Emily Thornberry

Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer – John McDonnell

Shadow Home Secretary - Diane Abbott

Shadow Brexit Secretary - Keir Starmer

Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury - Peter Dowd

Shadow Business Secretary - Rebecca Long-Bailey

Shadow Defence Secretary - Nia Griffith

Shadow Education Secretary – Angela Rayner

Shadow Health Secretary - Jonathan Ashworth

Shadow Cabinet Office minister - Jon Trickett

Shadow International Trade Secretary – Barry Gardiner

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary – Debbie Abrahams

Shadow International Development Secretary – Kate Osamor

Shadow Transport Secretary – Andy McDonald

Shadow Culture Secretary - Tom Watson (Deputy Leader)

Shadow Justice Secretary – Richard Burgon

Shadow Environment Secretary – Sue Hayman

Shadow Minister for Voter Engagement and Youth Affairs – Cat Smith

Chief whip - Nick Brown

Shadow Welsh Secretary - Christina Rees

Shadow Attorney General - Baroness Shami Chakrabarti

Shadow Leader of the Commons - Valerie Vaz

Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury - Jonathan Reynolds

Shadow Housing Secretary - John Healey

Shadow Mental Health Minister - Barbara Keeley

Shadow Women and Equalities Minister - Sarah Champion

Shadow Lords Leader - Angela Smith

Lords Chief Whip - Steve Bassam