Jeremy Corbyn has unveiled his full shadow cabinet as his office sought to defuse a growing row over the lack of women in key roles in the Labour's frontbench team.
A statement was issued after the newly elected party leader had refused to answer questions over the make-up of his shadow cabinet, which has been criticised.
Mr Corbyn had pledged to ensure half of the shadow cabinet is made up of women, but some politicians noted the most senior posts had all gone to men.
Labour MP Diana Johnson tweeted: "It is so very disappointing - old fashioned male dominated Labour politics in the top positions in Shadow Cabinet #notforgirls."
But Mr Corbyn's office argued the so-called great offices of state were an outdated concept and that society had changed significantly.
This echoed the comments of Labour's new shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, who said they did not recognise the traditional "hierarchical nature" of the jobs.
The statement issued in response to concerns over gender balance in the shadow cabinet said: "For Labour our proudest achievement is the creation of NHS.
"We are the party that delivered comprehensive education.
"We are the party that founded the open university, and that established and will defend the trade union and employment rights.
"The so-called 'great offices of state; as defined in the 19th Century reflect and era before women or workers even had the vote, and before Labour had radically changed the state."
Previously, Mr Corbyn had been pressed repeatedly by Sky News about why none of the key posts had gone to women but he did not respond.
As Mr Corbyn walked to his car outside Parliament early this morning, Sky's politics reporter Darren McCaffrey asked: "How do you face this criticism that there simply are not enough women in senior positions in the shadow cabinet?"
Mr Corbyn refused to answer, and continued walking as McCaffrey addressed several further questions to the Labour leader.
"Why do you just keep walking and not answer the question? Are you just going to keep walking?" McCaffrey said.
Eventually, Mr Corbyn said to a staffer: "There are people bothering me."
"Jeremy, we're not bothering you. We're just asking legitimate questions about your shadow cabinet appointments," McCaffrey replied.
The new Labour leader had been locked away in the opposition Chief Whips in the Commons from early Sunday afternoon with Rosie Winterton, his new chief whip and a team of close advisers.
Later, McCaffrey said only a small number of MPs actually visited Mr Corbyn in person yesterday, including Andy Burnham, David Lammy and Lord Falconer but most of the shadow cabinet was formed in frantic conversations.
