Parliamentary team has minor reshuffle

4.13.35pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 19th Jan 2007

Danny Alexander promoted to Shadow Cabinet

Matthew Taylor has stood down from the Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet following his announcement that he is not seeking re-election as an MP. He has been replaced by Danny Alexander, MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey, who becomes Shadow Minister for Social Exclusion.

Matthew Taylor is MP for Truro & St Austell and was first elected at a by-election in 1987 following the tragic death of David Penhaligon in a road accident. Matthew was 24 when first elected and was the youngest MP for several years. Now aged 44, he became a father last November.

Matthew is not re-standing because he wants be able to spend more time with his family. In a statement quoted on the BBC website he said ""I don't want to be a dad who is away from home four nights a week. Over and over again MPs tell me how hard it is on them, their wife, and their children to be away so much, but they put their career first. For me, I have had 20 years in Parliament. Now I want to put Vicky and Arthur first."

Danny Alexander was first elected in 2005, gaining the Inverness seat for the Liberal Democrats back from Labour, following boundary changes. Danny said: "The Liberal Democrats are the only party that puts fairness and opportunity for all at the top of the agenda, and I look forward to taking the fight to the Government on these critically important questions."

Additionally, Jeremy Browne (Taunton) has been appointed number two in the home affairs team, replacing Lynne Featherstone who was promoted to Shadow International Development Secretary in December 2006. Mark Hunter (Cheadle) takes over from Jeremy as number two in the foreign affairs team.

Full details of the Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet are on the Party's website at http://www.libdems.org.uk/party/people/shadow.html