SIR KEIR STARMER’S latest reshuffle of his shadow cabinet represents a shift to the right for the party, socialists said today as campaigners raised concerns about the future of Labour’s plans for a green industrial revolution. 

The party leader unveiled his new front-bench team in full on Monday night, with promotions for Blairites Wes Streeting and Yvette Cooper. 

Ms Cooper returned to her former position of shadow home secretary, replacing Nick Thomas-Symonds, while Mr Streeting took over from Jonathan Ashworth as shadow health secretary.

Sir Keir claimed that the new line-up was a “more focused shadow cabinet that mirrors the shape of the government we are shadowing.”

In addition, the role of shadow employment rights secretary was effectively axed, since the position — vacant since the resignation of Andy McDonald during the party conference in September — was not filled by Sir Keir. 

Following the reshuffle and Cat Smith’s resignation, Labour’s shadow cabinet no longer contains any Socialist Campaign Group members. 

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell raised concerns on Twitter, writing: “Reviving the careers of former Blairite ministers and simply reappointing existing shadow cabinet ministers to new posts does give the impression of Christmas past, not Christmas future.”

Figures on the Labour left said that the new shadow cabinet shows the party making a distinct shift to the right. 

Matt Zarb-Cousin, a former spokesman for Jeremy Corbyn, described Sir Keir’s leadership as “an unashamedly Blairite project.”

Eyebrows have been particularly raised by Ms Cooper regaining the home affairs portfolio, given her record of anti-migrant rhetoric.

Socialist academic and activist John Rees said: “The appointment of Yvette Cooper and Wes Streeting to the shadow cabinet is a Blairism and worse-than-Blairism cocktail. 

“Leftwingers remaining in Labour will need to reorient on strikes, social movements and extraparliamentary struggle.”

Campaigners for a green new deal described the move of Ed Miliband from Labour’s industrial and business brief to a new climate change role as concerning. 

Chris Saltmarsh, co-founder and chairman of Labour for a Green New Deal, said: “There’s no doubt that business is driving the climate crisis, putting profit ahead of all else.

“We hope that Ed Miliband can continue his good work developing Labour’s Green New Deal and transforming the energy system in his new role, but this cannot be at the expense of reining in the private sector.”