Sir Menzies reshuffles top team

10.19.54am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 4th Jul 2007

"This is a winning team which will take the fight to the other parties as we head toward the next election "- Campbell

Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell has reshuffled his front bench - promoting some of the party's rising stars. David Laws takes on the children, schools and families brief and Danny Alexander goes to work and pensions. Lembit Opik is moved from Northern Ireland and Wales to become Lib Dem spokesman on business, enterprise and regulatory reform. David Heath becomes Lib Dem spokesman for justice and the Lord Chancellor's office and Susan Kramer replaces Alistair Carmichael at transport. Party President Simon Hughes replaces Mr Heath in shadowing Commons leader Harriet Harman.

With the education department being split in two, David Laws becomes schools spokesman, taking on Labour's Ed Balls, with Sarah to take on new Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary John Denham. Norman Baker, who has led the campaign to protect freedom of information laws, returns to the frontbench, shadowing Cabinet Office Minister Ed Miliband.

Sir Menzies said: "We are fortunate in having some of the brightest and most able people in the House of Commons. "I am confident they will continue to hold the government to account and develop Liberal Democrat policy. We must continue to attack Labour and the Conservatives for their cosy consensus on key issues from the environment and civil liberties to nuclear energy and the war in Iraq. This is a winning team which will take the fight to the other parties as we head toward the next election."