Margaret Beckett the hassle, the scrutiny from [the press]. That’s a world that was beyond him until he was elected leader". Margaret Beckett Dame Margaret Mary Beckett (; born 15 January 1943) is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Derby South since 1983. She was the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party under John Smith from 1992 to 1994, and briefly served as Leader of the Labour Party after Smith died suddenly. She later served in the Cabinet under Prime Minister Tony Blair in a number of roles, becoming Britain's first female Foreign Secretary
Shadow First Secretary of State The current holder is Emily Thornberry who was appointed on 14 June 2017. Shadow First Secretary of State The Shadow First Secretary of State is a position in the United Kingdom's Shadow Cabinet that was created on 11 May 2015 by the Leader of the Opposition, Harriet Harman for her interim shadow cabinet. Prior to 2015, the office was known as Shadow Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Even though the role has no specific responsibilities attached to it, the holder of the position shadows the First Secretary of State and deputises for the Leader of the Opposition in