Labour shadow cabinet: Jeremy Corbyn's top team reshuffle sparks fresh turmoil

Jeremy Corbyn's controversial shadow cabinet reshuffle sparked fresh turmoil within Labour as the chairman of the parliamentary party strongly criticised the timing of the move.

John Cryer issued a fiery letter to MPs saying he and sacked chief whip Rosie Winterton had been kept in the dark about the shake-up, despite being engaged in crunch talks with the leadership on having some of the places on the body put up for election.

"We held a number of meetings, most recently during Labour conference, and were genuinely hopeful that we could get to an agreement which would have the chance of drawing the PLP together so that we could go forward in a more unified manner than has hitherto been the case," he said.

"Rosie and I were keen to continue these negotiations this week and tried to arrange meetings with the leader's office to come to an agreement as soon as possible.

"However, it became clear on Wednesday that a reshuffle was under way, which had not been discussed or mentioned. It now seems to me that the party's leadership did not engage in the talks in any constructive way. Obviously, I deeply regret this turn of events."

A spokesman for Mr Corbyn hit back, saying he was ready to continue talks with the new chief whip.

"Shadow cabinet elections will be considered by Labour's national executive committee as part of a wider party democratisation at a special meeting next month."

Critics attacked Mr Corbyn for engaging in a "revenge reshuffle" which saw the key posts go to his arch-loyalists.

Mr Corbyn completed his reshaping of Labour's front bench by appointing his deputy Tom Watson, with whom he has had a tension-filled relationship, as shadow culture secretary.

Mr Watson led failed negotiations to broker a peace deal between Mr Corbyn and the bulk of the parliamentary party opposed to him after the mass shadow cabinet walkout in June.

The final line-up sees key Corbyn allies John McDonnell and Emily Thornberry retain their posts as shadow chancellor and shadow foreign secretary respectively.

This means that with Diane Abbott shadowing the home office brief, the three top posts are held by Corbyn loyalists - and London MPs.

There was said to be unhappiness among Labour MPs at the promotion of Mr Corbyn's long-time ally Ms Abbott to such an important post, and the sacking of chief whip Ms Winterton, seen as a key link with the backbenches.

Clive Lewis was moved from the defence portfolio to become shadow business secretary following the controversy which erupted at last week's Labour Party conference when the leader's office doctored the ex-soldier's speech on Trident at the last minute.

Jon Ashworth, one of the few remaining moderates in the shadow cabinet, was promoted to shadow health secretary, but has lost his place on the party's ruling National Executive Committee to a Corbyn loyalist which could tip the finely balanced body in the leadership's favour.

Mr Corbyn responded to critics, saying: "I have acted to bring together a strong and diverse opposition leadership team."