The Right Honourable
Liam Byrne
MP
Shadow Minister for Digital
Assumed office
18 July 2017
Leader Jeremy Corbyn
Preceded by Louise Haigh
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
In office
20 January 2011 – 7 October 2013
Leader Edward Miliband
Preceded by Douglas Alexander
Succeeded by Rachel Reeves
Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office
In office
8 October 2010 – 20 January 2011
Leader Edward Miliband
Preceded by Tessa Jowell
Succeeded by Tessa Jowell
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
In office
11 May 2010 – 8 October 2010
Leader Harriet Harman (Acting)
Edward Miliband
Preceded by Philip Hammond
Succeeded by Angela Eagle
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
In office
5 June 2009 – 11 May 2010
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Chancellor Alistair Darling
Preceded by Yvette Cooper
Succeeded by David Laws
Minister for the Cabinet Office
In office
3 October 2008 – 5 June 2009
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Preceded by Edward Miliband
Succeeded by Tessa Jowell
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
In office
3 October 2008 – 5 June 2009
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Preceded by Edward Miliband
Succeeded by Janet Royall
Minister for the West Midlands
In office
28 June 2007 – 3 October 2008
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Ian Austin
Minister of State for Borders and Immigration
In office
22 May 2006 – 3 October 2008
Prime Minister Tony Blair
Gordon Brown
Preceded by Tony McNulty (Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality)
Succeeded by Phil Woolas
Member of Parliament
for Birmingham, Hodge Hill
Assumed office
15 July 2004
Preceded by Terry Davis
Majority 31,026 (66.9%)
Personal details
Born (1970-10-02) 2 October 1970 (age 53)
Website Official website
parliament..liam-byrne


Liam Dominic Byrne MP (born 2 October 1970) has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham, Hodge Hill since 2004.

He served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury in Gordon Brown's Government and is known for leaving a note for his Conservative successor upon his departure saying "I'm afraid there is no money."

Parliamentary career

He was selected to contest the Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election following the resignation of the veteran Labour MP Terry Davis to become the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. After a very close contest, on 15 July 2004, the same day as Labour lost Leicester South in another by-election, Byrne held on with a majority of just 460.

Following his re-election with an increased majority on 5 May 2005, he was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health, an unusually fast promotion to ministerial rank. He was re-elected at the May 2010 general election.

All-Party Parliamentary Groups

Byrne is the chair of two APPGs: the APPG on Inclusive Growth and the APPG on Children of Alcoholics. The APPG on Inclusive Growth was formed in July 2014 with the aim of finding a new consensus on inclusive growth to ensure the benefits of growth are enjoyed by all sectors of society.

Following the 2006 local elections he was promoted to Minister of State for policing, security and community safety at the Home Office, replacing Hazel Blears, one of the highest-profile roles in the government outside the cabinet. However, just a fortnight later Home Secretary John Reid moved him to the immigration role, switching portfolios with Tony McNulty.

In a cabinet reshuffle on 3 October 2008 he was promoted, becoming Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Departure from the Treasury

On leaving his position as Chief Secretary to the Treasury following the change of British government in May 2010, Byrne left a note to his successor David Laws saying "Dear Chief Secretary, I’m afraid there is no money. Kind regards – and good luck! Liam." Byrne later claimed that it was just typical humour between politicians, but regretted it since the new government used it to justify the wave of cuts that were introduced.