Read: Shuffling the pack: Keir Starmer switches up his top team
Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer has today announced a reshuffle of his Shadow Cabinet - expected to be his final before the General Election, and giving the party an opportunity to fire the starting gun on the campaign at their Conference in a little over a month.
Starmer has opted for a ‘safety first’ approach, with few new faces, but many moving to new roles. Shadow Cabinet Ministers aligned with one of the party’s five Missions - such as Wes Streeting and Ed Miliband - have remained in post. However, those seen as poor performers by the party’s leadership, such as Rosena Allin-Khan, Preet Gill and Lisa Nandy have been sacked or demoted. Shadow Environment Secretary Jim McMahon also stood down from the Shadow Cabinet.
The highlight of the reshuffle is without doubt the appointment of Angela Rayner as Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Rayner’s role has been the subject of speculation for months, with many in Labour urging Starmer to find a role that closer aligns to her strengths than the Cabinet Office - which focuses on government procedure and administration. Starmer has also appointed Rayner to the role of ‘Shadow Deputy Prime Minister’, and committed to appointing in government should Labour win the next election.
Bristol North West MP and Chair of Parliament’s influential Business and Trade Select Committee, Darren Jones, has joined the Shadow Cabinet for the first time as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and veteran Labour MP and a Cabinet Minister in the last Labour government, Hillary Benn, has been appointed as Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary.
Pat McFadden, who has been seen as crucial to Labour’s engagement in the business community becomes Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster - a role focused on the efficient running of government - whilst Jonathan Reynolds has been given an expanded job covering international trade, as well as business policy.
Shabana Mahmood has also been appointed as Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary. Mahmood is credited for reforming Labour’s campaigning operation as National Campaign Coordinator, and playing a crucial role in the party’s victory in the Selby and Ainsty by-election in July, which saw Labour overturn a Conservative majority of over 20,000.
Peter Kyle moves to shadow the recently created Science brief, whilst Lucy Powell becomes Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, and Thangam Debbonaire takes Culture, Media and Sport.
A particularly noteworthy aspect of the appointments is a focus on government experience. The Shadow Cabinet is now made up of seven former Ministers, and five former government special advisors. This highlights the focus Starmer is putting on his team being able to ‘hit the ground running’ should the party win the next general election.
In recent months, the Purpose Coalition has engaged closely with the Shadow Cabinet, and we have hosted events with Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Shadow Climate Change and Net-Zero Secretary Ed Miliband, and next week look forward to welcoming Labour’s Shadow Employment Minister, Alison McGovern for an event on how employment can help boost social mobility.
Find out more about the Purpose Coalition’s work with the Labour Party at www.purposewithlabour.co.uk.
