Shabana Mahmood appointed shadow minister for Business, Innovation and Skills

Labour leader Ed Miliband's recent shadow cabinet reshuffle was a signal of his intent to bring new life into the party and move with the times.

The 27-member shadow cabinet is now made up of 13 women and a number of MPs who were only elected into office at the 2010 general elections.

One of the progressive moves was installing Chuka Umunna, often labelled as Britain's Barack Obama and a potential future leader of the country, as Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

There was also plenty of movement in terms of shadow ministers, with Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood moving from her role as a shadow home affairs minister and being appointed a shadow minister for BIS (higher education).

The 29-year-old made history as one of the first female Muslim Member of Parliament along with fellow Labour MPs Yasmin Qureshi (Bolton South East) and Rushanara Ali (Bethnal Green and Bow).

She will focus on higher education and lead Labour's fight against the coalition government's plans to increase the maximum tuition fee to £9,000 a year.

Mahmood, who studied at Oxford University, will also focus on measures to improve access to higher education for students from inner-city and minority backgrounds.

She said,

“I felt like I was in the minority at Oxford. I was the only Muslim woman in my college. But I had a very positive experience. I want to get the message out to pupils from non-traditional backgrounds that they shouldn’t be put off and shouldn’t think university’s not for them because it is.”

Other female BME shadow ministers include Chi Onwurah (BIS), Rushanara Ali (International Development) and Dianne Abbott (health).

Picture: Shabana Mahmood