What is meant by the term Shadow Cabinet (5 marks)

The Shadow Cabinet are members of the opposition (currently the Labour party who won the second largest proportion of seats) that sit on the front bench in The House of Commons and are seen as the alternative Government in waiting.

 The cabinet is lead by the leader of the oposition who is currently Jeremy Corbyn and comprise of shadow ministers such as the Shadow Chancellour of the Eschequer (John Mcdonald), Shadow Home Secretary (Dianne Abbot) etc.

The shadow cabinet lead on policies aswell as challenge and debate their counterpart in the cabinet (currently the Conservatives). 

Shadow cabinets can change over the term, this is usually done with a cabinet reshuffle. However, in June after the sacking of Hilary Benn by the leader of the oppposition Jeremy Corbyn, 19 members of the Shadow cabinet resigned.