KATE Green, the Stretford and Urmston MP, has been appointed as the Shadow Education Secretary.

The 60-year-old was installed as part of Sir Keir Starmer's top team following the sacking of Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey.

Reacting to her appointment, she said: "Nothing is more important than our children’s future, and I am so proud and excited to be taking on this role."

Before her election in 2010, she was chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group and before that was director of the National Council for One Parent Families, now known as Gingerbread.

Announcing the decision, Sir Keir said: "I'm delighted to appoint Kate Green as Shadow Education Secretary.

"Kate has spent a lifetime campaigning against child poverty and educational inequalities I look forward to working with her in this new role."

For the Trafford MP, it is a return to the Shadow Cabinet after serving as shadow minister for women and equalities under Mr Corbyn's leadership.

She quit after the referendum, in what was seen by left-wing critics as a coup against the Islington North MP, and went on to chair Owen Smith's failed leadership bid.

Sir Keir gave her the role of shadow minister for child poverty strategy in April, before elevating her to education spokeswoman two months on.

Ms Green added: "The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on children's education.

"I look forward to working with teachers, unions, parents and councils to help ensure we get our children back in school as soon as possible."

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, welcomed Ms Green's appointment, adding: "At a time of such difficulty for the early year sector, an effective opposition is more important than ever, and so we look forward to working closely with Ms Green, and representing the views and concerns of our members and the wider sector, going forward."

Long-Bailey was dismissed after Sir Keir considered the Peake article she shared promoted an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory, a claim she later denied.