what is a shadow minister

A shadow minister is a member of the shadow cabinet or shadow ministry, which is a feature of the Westminster system of government. The shadow cabinet consists of a senior group of opposition spokespeople who, under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition, mirror the Cabinet in Government. Shadow ministers are members of the opposition, chosen by the Leader of the Opposition, and have the important responsibility of scrutinizing the work of the government and individual ministers. Each shadow minister concentrates on the work of a particular minister and government department, and they also put forward and explain opposition policies. Top-level shadow ministers form a shadow Cabinet which meets regularly to develop these policies. If there is a change of government, a shadow minister may become a minister. In most countries, a member of the shadow cabinet is referred to as a shadow minister. In the United Kingdoms House of Lords and in New Zealand, the term spokesperson is used instead of shadow, and in Canada, the term opposition critic is also used.