Jo Stevens was promoted to Labour’s justice team yesterday as Jeremy Corbyn put the final touches to his new front bench.

The Cardiff Central MP was a director of Thompsons Solicitors, which specialises in representing union members injured or mistreated at work, before winning her seat from the Lib Dems last May.

As well as being secretary of Labour’s Trade Union Group of MPs since entering Parliament Ms Stevens will now serve as shadow prisons minister.

“It’s a brief I’m interested in as a former lawyer, so I’m really delighted to be joining a talented front bench team on this and there’s lots to do,” she told BBC Radio Wales.

Trade Union Group executive for Unison Angela Rayner was moved from the whips’ office to serve as shadow work and pensions minister.

Mr Corbyn also made former school governor Jenny Chapman a shadow education minister and was forced into two more appointments to replace shadow ministers who resigned in protest at the sacking of Pat McFadden as shadow Europe minister.

Blackburn MP Kate Hollern replaced Kevan Jones in defence while, in place of Stephen Doughty, Fabian Hamilton joined the foreign affairs team led by fellow Leeds MP Hilary Benn.

Asked about the resignation of fellow Cardiff MP Mr Doughty, Ms Stevens said it was “regrettable” to see any colleague step down.

But she said: “Our party is full of very talented people who can make a contribution in front bench jobs. We’re going to get on with it.

“Jeremy Corbyn is our leader, we’ve got to get behind him and our job is to take the opposition to the Tories.

“That’s the job of every member of the Parliamentary Labour Party.”