Starmer Unveils Sweeping Cabinet Reshuffle After Rayner’s Shock Resignation

Political Reporter
national Press Corporation(NPC)

United Kingdom – Sir Keir Starmer has carried out the most extensive reshuffle of his premiership after Angela Rayner resigned as deputy prime minister, deputy Labour leader and housing secretary.

Rayner’s departure, announced on Friday following an investigation into her £800,000 flat purchase in Hove, prompted a radical overhaul of the cabinet. She admitted underpaying £40,000 in stamp duty, saying she mistakenly believed it was her only property. The prime minister’s ethics adviser concluded she had acted with integrity but breached the ministerial code by not seeking professional tax advice.

In her resignation letter, Rayner said she “deeply regretted” the oversight and the strain on her family had become “unbearable”. Sir Keir, in a handwritten reply, praised her as a “trusted colleague and a true friend”.

The reshuffle saw David Lammy promoted to deputy prime minister and Steve Reed become housing secretary. Shabana Mahmood moved to the Home Office, while Yvette Cooper was appointed foreign secretary, joining Chancellor Rachel Reeves in what is now the most senior group of women ever to hold the top posts alongside the prime minister.

Other significant changes included Pat McFadden becoming work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall moving to the science portfolio, Jonathan Reynolds taking over as chief whip, Peter Kyle becoming business secretary, and Douglas Alexander returning as Scottish secretary.

Several senior figures – including Lisa Nandy at culture, John Healey at defence and Wes Streeting at health – remain in their posts. But Ian Murray expressed disappointment at being replaced in Scotland, while Darren Jones gained the additional title of chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Rayner’s resignation also triggers a deputy leadership election, a contest seen as potentially exposing divisions within Labour’s ranks.

The opposition seized on the moment, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch branding Starmer “too weak” to dismiss Rayner earlier, and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage calling the government “in crisis”. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey added that “reshuffling chairs” would not address the country’s deeper challenges.