Lammy named deputy PM
Angela Rayner’s resignation has triggered a sweeping Cabinet reshuffle, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer moving to strengthen his top team and signal continuity at the heart of government.
David Lammy has emerged as one of the biggest winners, taking on the dual roles of Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary while also becoming Deputy Prime Minister. The appointment cements his position as one of Starmer’s most senior lieutenants.
Darren Jones retains his role as Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister while stepping up as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Yvette Cooper replaces Lammy at the Foreign Office, with Shabana Mahmood promoted to Home Secretary.
Major cabinet changes
The reshuffle has seen several familiar names shifted into prominent posts:
- Steve Reed becomes Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary.
- Pat McFadden moves to Work and Pensions.
- Peter Kyle takes over as Business and Trade Secretary.
- Liz Kendall becomes Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary.
- Emma Reynolds joins Cabinet as Environment Secretary.
- Douglas Alexander returns as Scottish Secretary.
- Jonathan Reynolds becomes Chief Whip.
Angela Rayner and Lucy Powell both leave government, alongside Baroness Gustafsson, Jim McMahon and Daniel Zeichner.
Fresh faces promoted
The shake-up has also brought in a wave of new ministers. Anna Turley enters Cabinet as Minister without Portfolio, while rising Labour figures including Alex Norris (Home Office), Luke Pollard (Defence) and Georgia Gould (Education) have secured ministerial jobs.
Dame Angela Eagle and Dame Diana Johnson join as senior Ministers of State, while Jason Stockwood, the businessman and Labour donor, has been appointed Minister for Investment and is set to receive a peerage.
A careful balancing act for Starmer
The reshuffle is seen as both a reaction to Angela Rayner’s departure and an attempt by Sir Keir Starmer to steady the ship while rewarding loyalty.
By placing seasoned figures such as Lammy, Cooper and Mahmood in key security and foreign policy roles, and elevating newer voices to shape the domestic agenda, the Prime Minister has sought to project both continuity and renewal.
Allies point to the changes as proof of Labour’s “bench strength”. But critics warn that losing a high-profile northern figure like Rayner, alongside Andy Burnham’s attacks on the Government for being too London-centric, risks fuelling a narrative of imbalance and weakening Labour’s grip on unity.
