DAVID HEATH RE-JOINS LIB DEM FRONT BENCH

4.53.00pm GMT Thu 8th Jan 2009

In an announcement from Liberal Democrat Party Leader Nick Clegg, Somerton & Frome MP David Heath was today returned to the Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Leader of the House, a role he last held in 2007. The position will mean that David will scrutinise the work of government minister Harriet Harman MP and her department, and act as spokesman on matters relating to the work of the House of Commons.

Mr Heath left the Liberal Democrat front bench in March last year when he voted for a referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon against the official party line. He has since been a backbencher, but made it plain that other than the disagreement on the specific issue of Europe there were no differences between him and Mr Clegg on policy matters.

Commenting on the changes he had made to the Shadow Cabinet, Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg said:

"I am proud to lead the best front-bench team in British politics, a team which has consistently been ahead of the curve on the big debates that matter to the British people.

This team leaves the Liberal Democrats well placed to take the fight to both Labour and the Conservatives in the run-up to the General Election and to bring about the change that Britain needs."

David Heath said:

"Obviously I am delighted to be back in a leading role for the party, and particularly in a position which allows me a degree of freedom to comment on a wide range of issues. However, a key role will be to argue for effective reform of parliament itself so that it can do its job both in legislation and scrutiny of the actions of ministers more effectively. I am eager to use the opportunities I have to strengthen democratic involvement and the relevance of Parliament as an institution.

I have had plenty to occupy me over the last nine months with constituency issues, but I hope that my new job will enable me to carry those arguments forward even more effectively."