The appointment of new health and education spokesmen were the key features in Charles Kennedy's post-general election reshuffle announced yesterday.

The Liberal Democrat leader made Steve Webb the party's health spokesman, while Ed Davey was appointed spokesman for education.

Webb was the author of a proposal for an NHS tax based on national insurance contributions that the Lib Dems considered in the previous Parliament.

Davey was behind the Lib Dems’ plans for a local income tax to replace the council tax, which some in his party say scared off middle-class voters.

David Laws was appointed spokesman on work and pensions, while other promotions went to Norman Lamb, the new trade and industry spokesman, and Sarah Teather, who was appointed spokesman for local government and communities.

Two of the party's new MPs were appointed to the front bench.

Chris Huhne becomes deputy Treasury spokesman and Nick Clegg becomes a foreign affairs spokesman,

Sir Menzies Campbell, Vince Cable and Mark Oaten remain as spokesmen on foreign affairs, economics and home affairs respectively.

Simon Hughes, who had stepped down to run for the London mayoralty last year, returns with a policy brief to shadow John Prescott.

Phil Willis, Malcolm Bruce, Paul Keetch and Paul Burstow return to the back benches.