LIVE: Starmer’s Full Reshuffle List – Rayner Shadow PM, Lisa Nandy Demoted

RESHUFFLE: Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer continues to announce his new shadow cabinet. Below, VoteWatch will be updating throughout today as every new appointment and sacking comes through.

Keep coming back to this article for the full list.

12:30

Jim McMahon has announced he is stepping down as shadow environment secretary.

In a letter to Sir Keir posted on X, formerly Twitter, he said he wanted to step back for the benefit of his health and his family, after coming back from a serious illness. Responding to his resignation, Starmer said: “I have no doubt you will continue to play an important role in the future of the Labour Party and the people of Oldham West & Royton are lucky to have you.”

12:52

With the Labour Party becoming ever more confident of victory at the next General Election – mostly due to Tory infighting and a decline in public support for the government – Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner has today officially been named ‘Shadow Deputy Prime Minister’ as part of Keir Starmer’s reshuffle.

Rayner, the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, already had a wide range of roles, believed to have been handed to her to appease far-left Corbyn supporters after Keir Starmer took over as the leader of the Labour Party. Starmer had in fact sacked Rayner as Party Chair in 2021 following Labour’s dismal defeat in the Hartlepool by-election – but was pressured into handed her a bizarre cocktail of promotions.

She currently serves as shadow minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, shadow secretary of state for the future of work, and deputy leader of the official Opposition, alongside her role as deputy Labour leader.

Angela Rayner is now officially the ‘Shadow Deputy Prime Minister’.

Earlier in the month we reported that Starmer was planning to reshuffle his opposition cabinet in the run-up to next year’s general election.

Addressing this, Rayner told the BBC: “The important thing is that I will be the deputy prime minister and I will be the deputy leader of the Labour Party, so actually the important job is around supporting Keir as the leader.”

“To me, the important job is getting into Government and then delivering, and wherever that is and however I use my skills within that, I am happy to do that.

“It is an absolute honour and a privilege to be an MP for my constituency, and to be on the front bench, and to do the job I am doing, and to be His Majesty’s Government would be an incredible honour, and I take that seriously and would do whatever it takes to improve the lives of British people in whatever role that is.”

This is not the first time that Rayner has emphasised her desire to be Deputy PM, with a Labour insider telling The Mail on Sunday: “Sounds like Angela is bouncing – or trying to bounce – Keir into giving her that formal title.”

Today, as part of his reshuffle, Starmer gave her not only the title of ‘Shadow Deputy Prime Minister’, but also ‘shadow levelling up secretary’.

The role previously belonged to Labour MP Lisa Nandy.

13:24

As part of the reshuffle, Lisa Nandy has been demoted to Shadow Cabinet Minister for International Development.

Lisa Nandy MP @LisaNandy has been appointed Shadow Cabinet Minister for International Development. pic.twitter.com/I4RpKvvG1l

— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) September 4, 2023

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13:41

The Labour Party has just announced that Shabana Mahmood MP has been appointed shadow secretary of state for justice in the ongoing reshuffle. Mahmood has served as the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Ladywood since 2010. Mahmood, who is seen as a staunch ally of Starmer, previously resigned from cabinet during the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, saying that she ‘strongly disagreed’ with Corbyn on his views about the economy.

Steve Reed MP has also been appointed shadow secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs.

14:00

Pat McFadden has been appointed as the new shadow chancellor of Duchy of Lancaster. The post previously belonged to Angela Rayner. McFadden, a former close ally of Tony Blair, has also been appointed as Labour’s national campaign co-ordinator.

14:09

Liz Kendall has been made the shadow work and pensions secretary.

She was previously a shadow health minister, with a focus on social care.

Thangam Debbonaire has been appointed shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport.

Debbonnaire has been the shadow leader of the House of Commons since May 2021, and served as the shadow secretary of state for housing from 2020 to 2021.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Ashworth has been appointed to the shadow cabinet as shadow paymaster general in the shadow cabinet office.

14:30

Peter Kyle is the next appointment to be announced, becoming shadow minister for science, innovation and technology.

He was previously the shadow Northern Ireland secretary.

Darren Jones MP has been made shadow chief secretary to the treasury – a post formerly held by Pat McFadden MP.

Jones has served as the chair of the house of commons business and trade select committee since 2020, and has been a member of parliament for Bristol North West since 2017.

Nick Thomas-Symonds has been appointed as the shadow minister without portfolio in the cabinet office – its equivalent in office tends to involve generally contributing to the running of government.

Hilary Benn MP, who has been appointed shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland.

14:50

Lucy Powell has been made shadow leader of the House of Commons.

15:20

Ellie Reeves has been appointed to the shadow cabinet as deputy national campaign coordinator, serving alongside Pat McFadden. The MP for Lewisham West and Penge was previously a shadow justice minister.

16:50

Rosena Allin-Khan will no longer be part of Labour’s top team as the shadow minister for mental health.

In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, she says: “You made clear that you do not see a space for a mental health portfolio in a Labour Cabinet, which is why I told you many weeks ago that I would not be able to continue in this role.”

Read her full resignation letter here.

17:10

In an interview with reporters in London, Sir Keir Starmer has said that his reshuffle has produced a “really well-balanced team”.

“What I’ve focused on is slimming down the substantive briefs while having an eye on the general election,” he added.

“It’s a fantastic result when you get the people you want who have the talent and determination into the cabinet.

“Everyone is pleased with the position they have and I’m very pleased.”