Corbyn appoints shadow youth minister
Neil Puffett
Monday, September 14, 2015
Gloria De Piero has been appointed Labour's shadow minister for young people by new leader Jeremy Corbyn.
De Piero takes on the brief after John Woodcock stood down from the post in the wake of Corbyn's convincing win at the weekend.
During the leadership election, Corbyn pledged to fight for statutory youth services.
Labour had previously ditched its commitment to statutory youth services prior to the general election.
Prior to election to parliament in 2010, De Piero was GMTV’s political editor. She has also previously worked as a journalist on The Politics Show at the BBC.
Since becoming an MP she served as a shadow junior Home Office minister, prior to being appointed shadow minister for women and equalities in October 2013.
She was also vice chair of the all-party parliamentary group on mental health, which is supported by Rethink Mental Illness, Mind and the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Chair of the British Youth Council, Jon Foster, said: “The British Youth Council welcomes the new specific role of shadow minister for young people – something we called for in our general election manifesto from a future government so that there could be greater coordination and focus of youth policy.
"BYC will be seeking an early meeting with both Gloria de Piero and the new leader Jeremy Corbyn to discuss our manifesto priorities for this parliament.”
Meanwhile Luciana Berger has been appointed shadow minister for mental health.