A Shadow Cabinet is a group of members of a political opposition party , not in power , who provides an alternative to the Government . The Shadow Cabinet ( also called the Shadow Front Bench ) is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition form an alternative cabinet to the government 's , whose members shadow or mark each individual member of the government . Members of a shadow cabinet are often but not always appointed to a Cabinet post if and when their party gets into government .