Cabinet Reshuffle
In the wake of Angela Rayner MP’s resignation as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Labour Leader over her tax affairs, the Prime Minister has moved swiftly to try to reassert control of the political narrative, initiating a significant reshuffle of senior Cabinet roles. The reshuffle sees changes such as David Lammy MP appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister and moved to Justice Secretary, while Yvette Cooper MP leaves her role as Home Secretary in a move to the Foreign Office. Shabana Mahmood MP, formerly Justice Secretary, assumes the challenging Home Office brief at a time of mounting pressure over small boats, asylum hotel closures, and recent unrest. And this reshuffle marks a historic first: all three great offices of state, the most senior and historically significant posts in the Cabinet, will now be held by women.
Further changes may continue to be announced into the evening, and the Labour Party has confirmed that it will meet shortly to agree the timetable and procedural guidelines for the election of a new Deputy Leader.
A summary of announcements made so far:
- Shabana Mahmood MP will replace Yvette Cooper MP as Home Secretary. Mahmood, a qualified barrister, is well respected by Number 10 having previously served as the Labour party’s National Campaign Coordinator between 2021 and 2023, overseeing major changes in the party. Her elevation to the Home Office signals Starmer’s confidence in her effectiveness and ability to bring the same focus to the challenges of policing, security, and immigration. One of the first female Muslim MPs elected to Parliament, she now takes on one of the most senior offices of state.
- Yvette Cooper MP will replace David Lammy MP as Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Secretary. Cooper, who has been in Starmer’s Home Office team since November 2021, has become associated with the Government’s perceived failure to deal with illegal immigration. Although regarded as a Labour veteran, having served under Gordon Brown, Cooper’s experience in foreign policy includes a brief stint as Shadow Foreign Secretary between October 2010 and January 2011.
- David Lammy MP will replace Shabana Mahmood MP as Justice Secretary and will take on the vacated role of Deputy Prime Minister. During his time at the Foreign Office, Lammy cultivated a close relationship with US Vice President JD Vance, even hosting him during a recent visit to the UK. A qualified barrister, called to the bar in 1994, he will now also take on responsibility for deputising at Prime Minister’s Questions in Starmer’s absence.
- Pat McFadden MP will replace Liz Kendall MP as Work and Pensions Secretary. A veteran of Labour Governments under Blair and Brown, McFadden brings decades of experience in both ministerial and shadow roles, including his previous position as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. McFadden’s new “super ministry”, which will combine parts of multiple departments, will also incorporate the skills brief, currently part of the Department for Education, and is expected to be focused on growth. He will also face the challenges of overseeing Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment reforms, and broader welfare policy.
- Steve Reed MP will replace Angela Rayner MP as Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary. Former Lambeth Council leader, Reed previously served across multiple briefs, most recently as Environment Secretary where he led reforms to the water industry and more unpopular changes to taxes affecting farmers. Reed’s move returns him to a brief he previously shadowed, drawing on his background in local government.
- Liz Kendall MP will replace Peter Kyle MP as Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary. In her former DWP role, Kendall became synonymous with the shaky passage of the Universal Credit Bill. In her new position in charge of DSIT, Kendall will lead a department which has taken on increased responsibilities from the Cabinet Office for various initiatives since Labour came to power. The Department is clearly a priority for the Government, with it receiving the largest increase in its day-to-day budget of any department during June’s Spending Review.
- Peter Kyle MP will replace Jonathan Reynolds MP as Business and Trade Secretary. Former Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Kyle brings extensive experience in business and economic policy, having chaired the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee previously. He has consistently focused on supporting SMEs, driving enterprise, and reforming public procurement to encourage innovation. His expertise in technology, industrial strategy, and economic development positions him to lead the Government’s agenda on business growth, trade, and skills.
- Emma Reynolds MP will replace Steve Reed MP as Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary.
- Sir Alan Campbell MP will replace Lucy Powell MP as the Leader of the House of Commons.
- Jonathan Reynolds MP will replace Sir Alan Campbell MP as Chief Whip.
- Rachel Reeves MP is to remain in her role as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
- Lisa Nandy MP is to remain in her role as Culture, Media and Sport Secretary.
- John Healey MP is to remain in his role as Defence Secretary.
- Ed Miliband MP is to remain in his role as Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary.