Jeremy Corbyn announces more appointments amid Labour party frontbench reshuffle

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Jeremy Corbyn announced a string of appointments today amid a reshuffle of his Labour party's frontbench.

The opposition leader is trying to strengthen his grip on the party after winning last month's Labour leadership contest by a large majority.

Read more: Jeremy Corbyn has named a new shadow City minister, recruiting an MP who previously resigned in protest over his leadership

Diane Abbott was appointed shadow home secretary and Shami Chakrabarti will take the role of shadow attorney general.

Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) committee member Jonathan Reynolds was appointed shadow City minister, as Morning Wire previously reported. Clive Lewis was given the position of shadow business secretary.

Sarah Champion is going to be shadow women and equalities minister, while Jo Stevens is taking the post of secretary of state for Wales and Nia Griffith will be shadow defence secretary.

Corbyn kicked off proceedings by appointing a key Gordon Brown ally, MP Nick Brown, as chief whip. Brown replaces Rosie Winterton who reports suggest had been critical of Corbyn's leadership.

Read more: Jeremy Corbyn re-elected as Labour Party leader

"I would like to pay tribute to Rosie Winterton for her six years’ exceptional service as chief whip. She has played an outstanding role in her support for me as leader and for the Labour Party as a whole," Corbyn said.

Some of the posts had remained unfilled since a wave of shadow cabinet resignations after Brexit vote in June, meaning some MPs had multiple portfolios.