The prime minister has completed a major cabinet reshuffle, replacing key figures in his top team. But who is in and who is out?
Sir Keir Starmer is reshuffling his cabinet following Angela Rayner’s resignation. Rayner resigned after admitting that she had not paid enough stamp duty on the purchase of a new home.
Rayner, the former right-hand woman of the prime minister, stepped down as deputy prime minister, housing secretary, and deputy leader of the Labour Party. The decision came after standards adviser Sir Laurie Magnus found that she had breached the ministerial code.
Rayner had paid standard stamp duty on a flat she bought in Hove, East Sussex, in May. However, she had taken advice that it counted as her only home because her disabled son’s trust owned the family home in Ashton-under-Lyne. However, it was later established that she should have paid more stamp duty.
Rayner’s resignation has left a void in the cabinet, which Sir Keir is now filling.
It was stressed early on Chancellor Rachel Reeves would remain as chancellor, in an attempt to stop the markets moving.
This is who is moving and where to:
David Lammy – foreign secretary to justice secretary and deputy PM
After demonstrating his diplomatic prowess with Donald Trump and his deputy JD Vance over the past year, Mr. Lammy will now transition to the role of justice brief.
This move is likely to be a setback for the Prime Minister, who had previously promised, most recently in November, that Mr. Lammy would hold the position of foreign secretary for the entire parliament until 2029.
Although he no longer holds one of the four great offices of state, he has also been appointed deputy prime minister, likely to mitigate the impact of his departure.
Mr. Lammy is close to Sir Keir, both personally and in his constituency, and was seen smiling as he entered Number 10 after his appointment.
Yvette Cooper – home secretary to foreign secretary
The Labour stalwart had made tackling illegal migration a priority, so the move could be seen as a disappointment for her.
However, she remains in one of the four great offices of state – PM, chancellor, foreign and home.
Shabana Mahmood – justice secretary to Home Secretary
Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary to the home secretary, has been appointed to a significant role. She will be tasked with addressing the challenges posed by the small boats crisis and the ongoing protests at asylum seeker hotels.
Shabana Mahmood is no stranger to making difficult decisions. As justice secretary, she made the controversial decision to release criminals early to alleviate prison overcrowding.
Her appointment marks a historic milestone, as it is the first time all three great offices of state, after the prime minister, are held by women.
Pat McFadden – chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and intergovernmental minister to work and pensions secretary and head of “super ministry”
Often seen as Sir Keir’s “number two”, Mr McFadden will take over a newly formed “super ministry”.
It will include the department for work and pensions and the skills remit of the department for education – taking a large part of Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson’s brief and taking over from Liz Kendall as work and pensions secretary.
While it is not a promotion at first glance, it is a much wider role than he has had as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster – the highest-ranking Cabinet Office minister after the PM.
Darren Jones – chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
It is the second new job in the space of one week for the new chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The close ally of the prime minister was promoted from chief secretary to the Treasury on Monday to chief secretary to the prime minister. And now he gets another new job.
Steve Reed – environment secretary to housing secretary
A promotion for the man who has consistently defended the government lifting inheritance tax relief on farmers.
He takes over one of the two major vacancies left by Ms Rayner and will have the massive task of building 1.5 million new homes during this parliament, as promised by the government.
Jonathan Reynolds – business and trade secretary to chief whip
A slightly odd move for the MP seen as a steady pair of hands in his business secretary role.
He takes over from Sir Alan Campbell and will now have to hustle Labour MPs to vote with the government – something that has sometimes proved difficult with the current cohort.
Mr Reynolds will also attend cabinet, as is necessary so he can liaise between the party and No 10.
Peter Kyle – science secretary to business and trade secretary
A promotion for Mr Kyle, who is taking over from Jonathan Reynolds.
He is seen as a rising star and impressed Labour MPs when he refused to stand down after suggesting Nigel Farage was on the side of people like Jimmy Savile by opposing the government’s online safety law.
Mr Kyle will be in charge of getting trade deals with other countries over the line.
Emma Reynolds – economic secretary to the Treasury to environment secretary
Probably the biggest promotion of the reshuffle, Ms Reynolds is taking on Mr Reed’s role after serving as a junior minister in the Treasury.
She will have to take on farmers and deal with the water companies – a big undertaking.
Liz Kendall – work and pensions secretary to science, innovation and technology secretary
Pat McFadden has taken her role as work and pensions secretary, while Ms Kendall takes over Peter Kyle’s brief.
He has made AI a major facet of his role so we will wait to see which direction Ms Kendall takes the job in.
Douglas Alexander – trade policy minister to Scotland secretary
A promotion for the Blair/Brown minister who returned to politics last year after being ousted in 2015 by then 20-year-old SNP MP Mhairi Black.
He takes over from Ian Murray, who has been removed from the cabinet.
Sir Alan Campbell – Chief whip to Lord President of the Council and leader of the House of Commons
An MP since 1997 and part of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s frontbench, Sir Alan is taking over Lucy Powell’s role.
He will be in charge of organising government business in the Commons – a sizeable job.
Who is out?
Lucy Powell has been sacked as leader of the House of Commons.
Ian Murray has been sacked as Scotland secretary.
Bridget Phillipson remains as education secretary but her brief has narrowed as Mr McFadden has taken over the skills part of her job.
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