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User:Footballnerd2007/2026 British cabinet reshuffle

< User:Footballnerd2007
Keir Starmer

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer carried out the second cabinet reshuffle of his premiership in July 2026.

Changes

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Below are the changes made in the reshuffle.[1][2]

Cabinet ministers

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Colour key
  •      Joined the Cabinet
  •      Left the Cabinet
Portrait Incumbent
Minister Position before reshuffle Position after reshuffle
Sir Keir Starmer Prime Minister

First Lord of the Treasury Minister for the Civil Service Minister for the Union

 Prime Minister

First Lord of the Treasury Minister for the Civil Service Minister for the Union

David Lammy Deputy Prime Minister

Secretary of State for Justice Lord Chancellor
Rachel Reeves Chancellor of the Exchequer

Second Lord of the Treasury

 Left the government
Yvette Cooper Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Shabana Mahmood Secretary of State for the Home Department
Pat McFadden Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Chancellor of the Exchequer

Second Lord of the Treasury

Darren Jones Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Minister for Intergovernmental Relations

 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Minister for Intergovernmental Relations Deputy Leader of the Labour Party

John Healey Secretary of State for Defence Secretary of State for Defence
Wes Streeting Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Bridget Phillipson Secretary of State for Education First Secretary of State

Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Minister without Portfolio Chair of the Labour Party

Ed Miliband Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Dismissed from the government
Steve Reed Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary of State for Business and Trade

President of the Board of Trade

Peter Kyle Secretary of State for Business and Trade

President of the Board of Trade

 Dismissed from the government
Liz Kendall Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Heidi Alexander Secretary of State for Transport Secretary of State for Transport
Emma Reynolds Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Lisa Nandy Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Hilary Benn Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Douglas Alexander Secretary of State for Scotland
Jo Stevens Secretary of State for Wales
Jonathan Reynolds Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury

Chief Whip of the House of Commons

 Dismissed from the government
Angela Smith,

Baroness Smith of Basildon

 Leader of the House of Lords

Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal

 Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Also attending Cabinet
Sir Alan Campbell Leader of the House of Commons

Lord President of the Council

 Leader of the House of Commons

Lord President of the Council

James Murray Chief Secretary to the Treasury Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Richard Hermer,

Baron Hermer

 Attorney General for England and Wales

Advocate General for Northern Ireland

 Dismissed from the government
Ellie Reeves Solicitor General for England and Wales Attorney General for England and Wales

Advocate General for Northern Ireland

Anna Turley Minister without Portfolio

Chair of the Labour Party

 Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury

Chief Whip of the House of Commons

Jenny Chapman,

Baroness Chapman of Darlington

 Minister of State for International Development, Latin America and Caribbean Minister of State for International Development, Latin America and Caribbean

Changes

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Minister Position before reshuffle Position after reshuffle
Angela Rayner Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government

 Resigned from the government
David Lammy Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Secretary of State for Justice Lord Chancellor

Yvette Cooper Secretary of State for the Home Department Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Shabana Mahmood Secretary of State for Justice

Lord Chancellor

 Secretary of State for the Home Department
Steve Reed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Emma Reynolds Economic Secretary to the Treasury

City Minister

 Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Darren Jones Chief Secretary to the Treasury (until 1 September) Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (from 5 September)

Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister (from 1 September) Minister for Intergovernmental Relations (from 6 September)

Pat McFadden Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Minister for Intergovernmental Relations (until 6 September)

 Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Liz Kendall Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Peter Kyle Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary of State for Business and Trade

President of the Board of Trade

Jonathan Reynolds Secretary of State for Business and Trade

President of the Board of Trade

 Chief Whip of the House of Commons

Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury

Alan Campbell Chief Whip of the House of Commons

Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury

 Leader of the House of Commons

Lord President of the Council

Lucy Powell Leader of the House of Commons

Lord President of the Council

 Dismissed from the government
Douglas Alexander Minister of State at the Cabinet Office

Minister of State for Trade Policy and Economic Security

 Secretary of State for Scotland
Ian Murray Secretary of State for Scotland Minister of State at Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Ellie Reeves Minister without Portfolio

Chair of the Labour Party

 Solicitor General for England and Wales
Anna Turley Lord Commissioner of the Treasury Minister without Portfolio

Chair of the Labour Party

James Murray Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Junior ministers

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Minister Position before reshuffle Position after reshuffle
Jason Stockwood|data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | None[a] Minister of State for Investment
Poppy Gustafsson, Baroness Gustafsson Minister of State for Investment Resigned from the government[3]
Jim McMahon Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution Left the government
Daniel Zeichner Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs Left the government
Justin Madders Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets Left the government
Catherine West Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific Left the government
Maria Eagle Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry Left the government
Abena Oppong-Asare Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office Left the government
Frederick Ponsonby, 4th Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice Left the government
Wajid Khan, Baron Khan of Burnley Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Faith, Communities and Resettlement Left the government
Catherine McKinnell Minister of State for School Standards Left the government
Dan Tomlinson Backbench MP Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
Michael Shanks Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Minister of State in the Department for Business and Trade and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Alison McGovern Minister of State for Employment Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Lucy Rigby Solicitor General for England and Wales Economic Secretary to the Treasury

City Minister

Dan Jarvis Minister of State for Security Minister of State for Security

Minister of State in the Cabinet Office

Patrick Vallance, Baron Vallance of Balham Minister of State for Science Minister of State for Science

Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Angela Eagle Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum Minister of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Diana Johnson Minister of State for Policing and Crime Prevention Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions
Sarah Jones Minister of State for Industry Minister of State for Policing and Crime
Chris Bryant Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms

Minister of State for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism

 Minister of State in the Department for Business and Trade
Luke Pollard Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence
Georgia Gould Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office Minister of State in the Department for Education
Ellie Reeves Minister without Portfolio

Chair of the Labour Party (attending Cabinet)

 Solicitor General for England and Wales
Ian Murray Secretary of State for Scotland

(Cabinet Minister)

 Minister of State in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Mike Tapp Backbench MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship
Louise Sandher-Jones Backbench MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence
Alison Levitt, Baroness Levitt Backbench peer Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice
Chris Ward Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office
Seema Malhotra Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities

 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities

Miatta Fahnbulleh Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Consumers Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Samantha Dixon Vice-Chamberlain of the Household (Senior Government Whip) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Zubir Ahmed Backbench MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Health and Social Care
Jacqui Smith, Baroness Smith of Malvern Minister of State for Skills (Department for Education)

Minister of State for Women and Equalities

 Minister of State for Skills (Department for Work and Pensions)

Minister of State for Women and Equalities

Alex Norris Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Building Safety, Fire and Local Growth Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum
Chris Elmore Comptroller of the Household (Senior Government Whip) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Satvir Kaur Backbench MP Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office (on maternity leave)
Josh Simons Backbench MP Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office (covering maternity leave)
Josh MacAlister Backbench MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Education
Olivia Bailey Backbench MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Education

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities

Blair McDougall Backbench MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Business and Trade
Kate Dearden Assistant Government Whip Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Business and Trade
Kanishka Narayan Backbench MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Anna McMorrin Assistant Government Whip Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales
Matthew Patrick Backbench MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Katie White Backbench MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Janet Daby Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families Left the government
Maggie Jones, Baroness Jones of Whitchurch Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Future Digital Economy and Online Safety Left the government
Gareth Thomas Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Services, Small Business and Exports Left the government
Feryal Clark Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for AI and Digital Government Left the government
Fleur Anderson Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Left the government
Nia Griffith Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities

 Left the government
Gerald Jones Assistant Government Whip Left the government
Martin McCluskey Assistant Government Whip Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Keir Mather Assistant Government Whip Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Transport
Jake Richards Backbench MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice

Assistant Government Whip

Lilian Greenwood Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Future of Roads Vice-Chamberlain of the Household (Senior Government Whip)
Nesil Caliskan Backbench MP Comptroller of the Household (Senior Government Whip)
Nic Dakin Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice

Lord Commissioner of the Treasury (Government Whip)

 Lord Commissioner of the Treasury (Government Whip)
Christian Wakeford Assistant Government Whip Lord Commissioner of the Treasury (Government Whip)
Stephen Morgan Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Early Education Lord Commissioner of the Treasury (Government Whip)
Claire Hughes Backbench MP Lord Commissioner of the Treasury (Government Whip)
Mark Ferguson Backbench MP Assistant Government Whip
Gregor Poynton Backbench MP Assistant Government Whip
Imogen Walker Backbench MP Assistant Government Whip
Jade Botterill Backbench MP Assistant Government Whip
Deirdre Costigan Backbench MP Assistant Government Whip
Ray Collins, Baron Collins of Highbury Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Africa Lord-in-Waiting (Government Whip)

 Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

Lord-in-Waiting (Government Whip)

Mike Kane Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Aviation, Maritime and Security Left the government
Kerry McCarthy Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Climate Left the government
Jeff Smith Lord Commissioner of the Treasury (Government Whip) Left the government
  1. ↑ To be conferred a life peerage.

Analysis

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The initial "mini-reshuffle" on 1 September was described as a "reset",[4] with Keir Starmer referring to it as the "second phase" of his government and not a reshuffle.[5]

Resignation of Angela Rayner

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Rayner (left) and Starmer (right) during their first cabinet meeting on 5 July 2024.

The resignation of Angela Rayner was the catalyst for the reshuffle.[6][7] She resigned over a tax scandal involving the purchase of a property.[8] HuffPost wrote that Starmer sought to reassert his authority following the loss of Rayner.[9] She had been expected to be a major candidate for Labour leader.[10] Her concurrent resignation as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party also triggered a deputy leadership election.[11] The last time a deputy leadership election was held alone was 2007.[12]

The New Statesman noted the right-wing shift of the announced changes.[13] One factor criticised was the treatment of female ministers.[14]

Other changes

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The reshuffle installed two new holders of Great Offices of State: a new home secretary and a new foreign secretary. This resulted in the three Great Offices below the Prime Minister being simultaneously occupied by women for the first time.[15] Ministers who stayed in office included Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband.[16]

Shabana Mahmood moved from Secretary of State for Justice to Home Secretary.[17] She was noted for being the first female Muslim Home Secretary.[18] Lucy Powell was dismissed as Leader of the House of Commons.[19] This was significant as she was responsible for delivering the legislative programme through parliament.[20] The Home Office saw major changes with Yvette Cooper, Angela Eagle and Diana Johnson leaving the department.[21]

The removal of Ian Murray as Secretary of State for Scotland was a surprise.[22] He spoke publicly of his huge disappointment.[23] Lord George Foulkes called it a “disgraceful decision”.[24] Murray was replaced by Douglas Alexander who previously served in the same job from 2006 to 2007 in the Blair government.[25] The following day Murray returned to government but as a junior minister at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.[26][27]

A few senior female MPs left the government including Nia Griffith, Catherine McKinnell and Maria Eagle. A number of MPs first elected in the 2024 general election were appointed to the frontbench for the first time.[28]

Reactions

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The reshuffle was controversial within Labour ranks. Chi Onwurah said: "It is clear that there are higher standards and expectations and more attention on working class Labour ministers, especially women.. but we have set ourselves high standards and we do need to keep to them”.[29] Louise Haigh previously said northern female MPs were targeted for scrutiny.[30] Internal civil war has been reported inside the Labour Party.[31] As Rayner came from the soft left, the ideological split has been important.[32]

The Daily Telegraph said that the government hoped the reshuffle would help counter Reform UK.[33] Nigel Farage was the focus of media attention as the reshuffle happened on the same day as the Reform UK conference in Birmingham.[34] Richard Tice said the government was "playing games".[35] Many journalists who planned to travel for the weekend ended up staying in London after Angela Rayner's unexpected resignation.[34] The reshuffle greatly overshadowed the Reform UK conference.[36] Labour had been trailing in the polls and so this was given significance.[37] Another reported issue for the government is on the left wing of politics with the new leader of the Green Party of England and Wales Zack Polanski, who was elected on 2 September, as well as the new Your Party of Jeremy Corbyn.[38]

Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch said: "Angela Rayner is finally gone.. but it's only because of Keir Starmer's weakness that she wasn't sacked three days ago".[39] Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: "If Labour believes that having a reshuffle will solve the deep-rooted problems of this government, they are learning the wrong lessons from the calamity Conservatives before them".[40]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Appointments: 1 September 2025". gov.uk.
  2. ↑ "Ministerial appointments: September 2025". gov.uk. 7 September 2025.
  3. ↑ "Starmer dealt trade blow as investment minister Gustafsson quits". Sky News. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  4. ↑ "What's behind Starmer's reset?". Sky News. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  5. ↑ "Starmer 2.0: what will 'phase two' of Labour government deliver?". The Week. 2 September 2025. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  6. ↑ "Newspaper headlines: 'The great Rayner reshuffle' and 'Nightmare on Downing Street'". BBC News. 6 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  7. ↑ "Henry Zeffman: Rayner's resignation is devastating blow for her and PM". BBC News. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  8. ↑ "Angela Rayner resigns after underpaying tax on Hove flat". www.bbc.com. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  9. ↑ Schofield, Kevin (5 September 2025). "Keir Starmer Swings The Axe In Major Cabinet Reshuffle After Rayner Resignation". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  10. ↑ "Angela Rayner: Labour's working-class warrior who fell from power". BBC News. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  11. ↑ Dimsdale, Connie (5 September 2025). "Angela Rayner quits government over failure to pay £40,000 stamp duty". The i Paper. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  12. ↑ Green, Daniel (5 September 2025). "Angela Rayner: How does Labour elect a new deputy leader of the party?". LabourList. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  13. ↑ Marr, Andrew (5 September 2025). "Keir Starmer's reshuffle pushes Labour to the right". New Statesman. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  14. ↑ "Reshuffle: Four key questions as Keir Starmer shakes up top team". LabourList. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  15. ↑ "Chris Mason: Faced with an almighty mess Starmer opts for big shake-up". BBC News. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  16. ↑ "Angela Rayner resigns: Starmer reshuffles Labour Cabinet". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  17. ↑ "Shabana Mahmood appointed Home Secretary amid pressure to tackle migration". The Independent. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  18. ↑ Hymas, Charles (5 September 2025). "Muslim Home Secretary to take harder line on illegal migration". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  19. ↑ "UK House of Commons leader Powell fired by PM Starmer". Reuters. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  20. ↑ Britton, Paul (5 September 2025). "Lucy Powell MP 'sacked as Leader of House of Commons in reshuffle'". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  21. ↑ "Home Office clearout as Starmer reshuffles top team". BBC News. 6 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  22. ↑ "Douglas Alexander appointed Scottish Secretary as Ian Murray sacked in reshuffle". The Scotsman. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  23. ↑ Johnson, Simon (5 September 2025). "Ian Murray 'hugely disappointed' after losing Scottish Secretary post". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  24. ↑ "Douglas Alexander appointed Scottish Secretary as Ian Murray sacked in reshuffle". The Scotsman. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  25. ↑ "Douglas Alexander becomes Scottish secretary after Murray sacked". BBC News. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  26. ↑ "Ian Murray returns to government in demoted role following fallout from sacking". The Herald. 7 September 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  27. ↑ Lloyd, Nina; O'Neill, Emma (6 September 2025). "Scots MP Ian Murray rejoins government one day after being sacked". Daily Record. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  28. ↑ Green, Daniel (7 September 2025). "Full list of new intake MPs promoted to first ministerial role in reshuffle". LabourList. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  29. ↑ Holland, Daniel; Robinson, James (5 September 2025). "What North East Labour MPs said as Angela Rayner quits as deputy prime minister". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  30. ↑ "Northern women in Cabinet targeted by No 10, claims ex-frontbencher". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  31. ↑ Hazell, Arj Singh, Richard Vaughan, Jane Merrick, Will (4 September 2025). "Starmer could sack Rayner, despite warnings of 'civil war'". The i Paper. Retrieved 6 September 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  32. ↑ Vaughan, Arj Singh, Jane Merrick, Richard (5 September 2025). "Starmer moves to stop damaging splits undermining his leadership as Rayner quits". The i Paper. Retrieved 6 September 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  33. ↑ Tominey, Camilla (5 September 2025). "Camilla Tominey and Tim Stanley speak to Richard Tice, Sarah Pochin and Jim Davidson at Reform's conference as Angela Rayner steps down". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  34. 1 2 "Farage puts spotlight on Labour woes at Reform UK conference". BBC News. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  35. ↑ "Tice accuses Labour of 'playing games' with reshuffle and says Reform is 'better at this'". Sky News. 6 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  36. ↑ "The red reshuffle overshadows Reform". The Spectator. 6 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  37. ↑ Merrick, Arj Singh, Richard Vaughan, Hugo Gye, Jane (6 September 2025). "'Reform will destroy us': Rayner crisis is make or break for Starmer". The i Paper. Retrieved 6 September 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  38. ↑ Schofield, Kevin (6 September 2025). "How Keir Starmer's 'Growth And Boats' Reshuffle Could Create Even More Problems For The PM". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  39. ↑ "Angela Rayer: Deputy prime minister resigns after tax row". BBC Newsround. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  40. ↑ Schofield, Kevin (5 September 2025). "Keir Starmer Swings The Axe In Major Cabinet Reshuffle After Rayner Resignation". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
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