Shadow Cabinet of Keir Starmer explained
Keir Starmer assumed the position of Leader of the Opposition after being elected as leader of the Labour Party on 4 April 2020; the election was triggered by Jeremy Corbyn's resignation following the Labour Party's electoral defeat at the 2019 general election when Boris Johnson formed a majority Conservative government. Starmer appointed his Shadow Cabinet on 5 and 6 April. He reshuffled his Shadow Cabinet five times: in June 2020, May 2021, June 2021, November 2021 and 2023.
His Shadow Cabinet appointments included MPs associated with the various wings of the party. Angela Rayner was appointed deputy labour leader and shadow deputy prime minister, while Rachel Reeves and Yvette Cooper were appointed as shadow chancellor and shadow home secretary, respectively. Former Labour leader Ed Miliband was appointed shadow energy and climate secretary. Other notable appointments included David Lammy as shadow foreign secretary and Wes Streeting as shadow health secretary. A reshuffle of the Shadow Cabinet was undertaken in September 2023, which was described by the media as being dominated by Blairites and demoting MPs on the soft left.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Following the achievement by the Labour Party of a majority in the 2024 general election, the shadow cabinet was disbanded after Starmer became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 5 July 2024, succeeding Rishi Sunak of the Conservative Party.
Shadow Cabinet
September 2023 – July 2024
November 2021 – September 2023
May 2021 – November 2021
April 2020 – May 2021
Shadow Ministers by department
See main article: Official Opposition frontbench. In April 2020, Starmer's shadow cabinet was appointed over the course of the week following the leadership election, which included former leader Ed Miliband, as well as both of the candidates he defeated in the contest. He also appointed Anneliese Dodds as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, making her the first woman to serve in that position in either a ministerial or shadow ministerial capacity.[7]
On 25 June 2020, Starmer dismissed his former leadership rival Rebecca Long-Bailey from her post as Shadow Secretary of State for Education. Long-Bailey had refused to delete a tweet calling the actress Maxine Peake an "absolute diamond" and linking to an interview in The Independent in which Peake said that the practice of kneeling on someone's neck by US police, as used in the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, was "learnt from seminars with Israeli secret services". The original article stated that "the Israeli police has denied this."[8] Starmer said that because the article "contained anti-Semitic conspiracy theories" it should not have been shared by Long-Bailey.[9] [10] The decision to dismiss Long-Bailey was criticised by the Socialist Campaign Group, whose members met with Starmer about the decision.[11] The decision was welcomed by some Jewish groups including the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Labour Movement. Starmer said that "restoring trust with the Jewish community is a number one priority. Antisemitism takes many different forms and it is important that we all are vigilant against it."[12] [13] On 27 June, he replaced her with Kate Green.[14]
On 23 September 2020, three frontbenchers (Olivia Blake, Nadia Whittome, and Beth Winter) rebelled against Labour's position of abstention on the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill and voted against the bill; all three lost their frontbench roles over the issue. This move was seen as an indication of the firm discipline Starmer intended to exert over his party.[15]
In the third reading of the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill on 15 October 2020, the Labour Party stance was to abstain yet 34 Labour MPs rebelled, including shadow ministers Dan Carden and Margaret Greenwood, and five parliamentary private secretaries who all resigned from their frontbench roles. These 34 were penalised the next day by being put on probation for going against the one-line whip to abstain.[16]
In April 2023, after writing an article in The Observer, former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott was suspended as a Labour MP pending an investigation.[17] [18] In the article, Abbott claimed that although "many types of white people with points of difference" such as Jewish, Irish or Traveller people can experience prejudice, they are not subject to racism "all their lives". Abbott later apologised for the article, saying that she had erroneously sent an early draft of her article. A Labour Party statement said that the comments were "deeply offensive and wrong". Starmer said that she was suspended due to anti-Semitism.
Emily Thornberry expressed her disappointment at not being appointed to a senior ministerial position by Sir Keir Starmer, despite her extensive tenure as shadow attorney general. She emphasised her contributions to Labour's policies and committed to supporting Starmer's government despite her personal setback.[19]
Reshuffles
May 2021 Shadow Cabinet reshuffle
In the aftermath of relatively poor results in the 2021 local elections, Starmer carried out a May 2021 shadow cabinet reshuffle. Starmer dismissed Angela Rayner as Chair of the Labour Party and National Campaign Coordinator following the elections.[20] [21] The move was criticised by John McDonnell, former Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.[22] [23] The major outcome of the reshuffle was the demotion of the Shadow Chancellor, Anneliese Dodds.[24] Rachel Reeves was appointed as the new Shadow Chancellor and Angela Rayner succeeded Reeves as Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Nick Brown was dismissed as Chief Whip and replaced by his deputy, Alan Campbell. Valerie Vaz departed as Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and was replaced by Thangam Debbonaire, who in turn was succeeded as Shadow Secretary of State for Housing by Lucy Powell. On 11 May 2021, Starmer's Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) Carolyn Harris resigned, which The Times reported was after allegedly spreading false rumours about the private life of Angela Rayner prior to her dismissal.[25] [26] Sharon Hodgson was appointed as Starmer's new PPS.[27]
November 2021 Shadow Cabinet reshuffle
The November 2021 shadow cabinet reshuffle, which was considered a surprise,[28] included the promotion of Yvette Cooper and David Lammy to Shadow Home Secretary and Shadow Foreign Secretary, respectively, while Miliband was moved from Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Industrial Strategy to Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero. The appointment of Cooper in particular was described by some commentators as a sign of Labour further splitting from the Corbyn leadership and moving to the right.[29] The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg and Robert Peston of ITV News said that the reshuffle aimed to "combine experience and youth" and end "the fatuous project of trying to ... placate Labour's warring factions", and instead chose "shadow ministers for their perceived ability".[30] [31] In the New Statesman, journalist Stephen Bush suggested that Starmer had "removed underperforming shadow cabinet ministers and rewarded his biggest hitters – but the resulting shadow cabinet looks to be less than the sum of its parts."[32]
2023
See main article: 2023 British shadow cabinet reshuffle. In September 2023, Starmer reshuffled his shadow cabinet for the third time since taking over as leader.[33] [34] Writers from The Guardian and Politico said that the Blairite wing of the party had prospered in the reshuffle to the detriment of the soft left of the party.[35] [36] One shadow minister, said of the reshuffle, "It's all the Blairites" and called it "an entirely factional takeover".[37] Starmer said that he was putting his "strongest possible players on the pitch" ahead of the upcoming general election.[38] Tom Belger writing for LabourList described the reshuffle as a continuing of "Labour's right-ward march".[39]
Starmer's deputy Angela Rayner received the shadow levelling up post, replacing Lisa Nandy who was demoted to the shadow minister for international development. The most senior members of the shadow cabinet remained in their positions. Rosena Allin-Khan, who was the shadow minister for mental health before the reshuffle, resigned from the Shadow Cabinet, criticising shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting's advocacy for outsourcing the NHS to the private sector.[40] She also said that Starmer did "not see a space for a mental health portfolio in a Labour cabinet".[41] [42] [43] The reshuffle coincided with the start of the tenure of Sue Gray as Starmer's new chief of staff.[44]
Notes and References
- Web site: Chaplain . Chloe . 4 September 2023 . Keir Starmer purges soft left and surrounds himself with Blairites for General Election push . 4 September 2023 . inews.co.uk.
- Web site: 4 September 2023 . Keir Starmer accused of promoting 'narrow band of Blairites' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230904175837/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/keir-starmer-labour-reshuffle-nandy-rayner-b2404713.html . 4 September 2023 . 4 September 2023 . The Independent.
- News: Brown . Alexander . 4 September 2023 . Labour reshuffle: Sir Keir Starmer's reshuffle purges left with right in complete control as Lisa Nandy suffers demotion . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230904194353/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/labour-reshuffle-sir-keir-starmers-reshuffle-purges-left-with-right-in-complete-control-as-lisa-nandy-suffers-demotion-4279592 . 4 September 2023 . 4 September 2023 . The Scotsman.
- News: Cunliffe . Rachel . 4 September 2023 . Keir Starmer's reshuffle was politically ruthless . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230904175245/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/labour/2023/09/keir-starmers-reshuffle-was-politically-ruthless . 4 September 2023 . 4 September 2023 . New Statesman.
- Web site: Chaplain . Chloe . 4 September 2023 . Keir Starmer purges soft left and surrounds himself with Blairites for General Election push . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230904175840/https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/labour-reshuffle-keir-starmer-shadow-cabinet-loyalists-general-election-2592972 . 4 September 2023 . 4 September 2023 . inews.co.uk.
- https://twitter.com/JoStevensLabour
- Web site: 6 April 2020 . Ed Miliband returns to Labour top team . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200420072501/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-52187354 . 20 April 2020 . 21 April 2020 . BBC News.
- Web site: Pollard . Alexandra . 25 June 2020 . We are being ruled by capitalist, fascist dictators . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200926134510/https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-independent-1029/20200625/282381221811434 . 26 September 2020 . . Pressreader.com.
- News: 25 June 2020 . Long-Bailey sacked for sharing 'anti-Semitic article' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200701193135/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-53183085 . 1 July 2020 . 2 July 2020 . BBC News.
- Web site: Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer sacks Rebecca Long-Bailey over 'antisemitic conspiracy theory' article . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200625152152/https://news.sky.com/story/sir-keir-starmer-sacks-rebecca-long-bailey-over-antisemitic-conspiracy-theory-article-12014698 . 25 June 2020 . 25 June 2020 . Sky News.
- Web site: Heather Stewart . 26 June 2020 . Starmer faces backlash from leftwing MPs over Long-Bailey sacking . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200627100444/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jun/26/keir-starmer-faces-backlash-from-leftwing-mps-over-rebecca-long-bailey-sacking . 27 June 2020 . 27 June 2020 . The Guardian.
- News: Walker . Peter . 25 June 2020 . Keir Starmer sacks Rebecca Long-Bailey from shadow cabinet . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200625143434/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jun/25/keir-starmer-sacks-rebecca-long-bailey-from-shadow-cabinet . 25 June 2020 . 25 June 2020 . The Guardian.
- News: Pollard . Alexandra . 25 June 2020 . Maxine Peake: 'People who couldn't vote Labour because of Corbyn? They voted Tory as far as I'm concerned' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200625073544/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/maxine-peake-interview-labour-corbyn-keir-starmer-black-lives-matter-a9583206.html . 25 June 2020 . 25 June 2020 . Independent.
- News: 27 June 2020 . Kate Green appointed as shadow education secretary . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200627233003/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53207160 . 27 June 2020 . 28 June 2020 . BBC News.
- News: 23 September 2020 . Three Labour MPs lose roles after voting against overseas operations bill . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210118041523/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/sep/23/minister-says-labour-took-uk-into-wars-during-commons-debate . 18 January 2021 . 16 January 2021 . The Guardian.
- News: Heffer . Greg . 16 October 2020 . Sir Keir Starmer hit by series of Labour resignations over Covert Human Intelligence Sources Bill . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201019015033/https://news.sky.com/story/sir-keir-starmer-hit-by-series-of-labour-resignations-over-covert-human-intelligence-sources-bill-12105165 . 19 October 2020 . 16 October 2020 . Sky News.
- News: Sam Francis & David Wallace Lockhart . 28 April 2023 . Keir Starmer denies targeting Labour left-wingers after Abbott suspended . 19 September 2023 . BBC News.
- News: Jemma Crew & Helen Catt . 23 April 2023 . Diane Abbott suspended as Labour MP after racism letter . 19 September 2023 . BBC News.
- News: Mitchell . Emily. Thornberry outburst after being snubbed for cabinet role by Keir Starmer . 8 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240709115121/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/emily-thornberry-labour-cabinet-starmer-b2576000.html . 9 July 2024 . 9 July 2024.
- Web site: Angela Rayner sacked as Labour Party chair by Sir Keir Starmer, Sky News understands . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210508195716/https://news.sky.com/story/angela-rayner-sacked-as-labour-party-chair-by-sir-keir-starmer-sky-news-understands-12301037 . 8 May 2021 . 8 May 2021 . Sky News.
- Web site: Bush . Stephen . 8 May 2021 . Keir Starmer's sacking of Angela Rayner is self-destructive, stupid and wrong . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210508184551/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2021/05/keir-starmer-s-sacking-angela-rayner-self-destructive-stupid-and-wrong . 8 May 2021 . 8 May 2021 . New Statesman.
- Web site: Casalicchio . Emilio . 8 May 2021 . UK Labour descends into civil war after dismal election results . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210629175621/https://www.politico.eu/article/labour-uk-keir-starmer-angela-rayner-election-hartlepool/ . 29 June 2021 . 18 October 2021 . Politico.
- Web site: Britton . Paul . 9 May 2021 . Andy Burnham 'can't support' the sacking of Angela Rayner as Labour chairman . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210513183855/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/andy-burnham-angela-rayner-labour-20557569 . 13 May 2021 . 18 October 2021 . Manchester Evening News.
- News: . 10 May 2021 . Keir Starmer's first shadow cabinet reshuffle is a bigger gamble than many realise . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210510150736/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2021/05/keir-starmer-s-first-shadow-cabinet-reshuffle-bigger-gamble-many-realise . 10 May 2021 . 10 May 2021 . New Statesman.
- News: Zeffman . Henry . Maguire . Patrick . Courea . Eleni . Wright . Oliver . 11 May 2021 . Keir Starmer's aide Carolyn Harris resigns amid accusations of spreading rumours about Angela Rayner . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210511005606/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/angela-rayner-could-oust-you-from-the-top-job-sir-kier-starmer-told-kvpxds5w2 . 11 May 2021 . 11 May 2021 . The Times.
- News: Mosalski . Ruth . 11 May 2021 . Carolyn Harris resigns as aide for Labour leader Keir Starmer amid allegations of spreading rumours . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210511125056/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/carolyn-harris-keir-starmer-aide-20571539 . 11 May 2021 . 11 May 2021 . Wales Online.
- News: Stewart . Heather . 14 May 2021 . Keir Starmer appoints northern MP to build bridges with backbenchers . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210516100934/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/14/keir-starmer-appoints-northern-mp-to-build-bridges-with-backbenchers . 16 May 2021 . 16 May 2021 . The Guardian.
- Web site: 29 November 2021 . Yvette Cooper returns as Starmer reshuffles his shadow cabinet . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211129213812/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/yvette-cooper-conservative-labour-jonathan-reynolds-cat-smith-b1966421.html . 29 November 2021 . 29 November 2021 . The Independent.
- Web site: 29 November 2021 . Yvette Cooper Makes Labour Frontbench Comeback After Keir Starmer Reshuffles Top Team . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211130163549/https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/shadow-home-secretary-nick-thomas-symonds-ousted-in-reshuffle . 30 November 2021 . 6 December 2021 . Politics Home.
- News: Kuenssberg . Laura . Laura Kuenssberg . 29 November 2021 . Labour reshuffle: Starmer aims to combine experience and youth . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211201141847/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-59464865 . 1 December 2021 . 7 March 2022 . BBC News.
- Web site: Peston . Robert . 29 November 2021 . Keir Starmer chooses the Labour team he actually rates . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220326014031/https://www.itv.com/news/2021-11-29/keir-starmer-chooses-the-labour-team-he-actually-rates . 26 March 2022 . 7 March 2022 . ITV News.
- Web site: Bush . Stephen . 29 November 2021 . Keir Starmer's new-look shadow cabinet is less than the sum of its parts . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211203200811/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/11/keir-starmers-new-look-shadow-cabinet-is-less-than-the-sum-of-its-parts . 3 December 2021 . 6 December 2021 . New Statesman.
- News: 3 September 2023 . Labour reshuffle: Sir Keir Starmer to shake up shadow cabinet . 4 September 2023 . BBC News.
- News: Elizabeth Piper . 4 September 2023 . UK's opposition Labour leader reshuffles top team before election . 4 September 2023 . Reuters.
- News: Pippa Crerar and Peter Walker . 4 September 2023 . Angela Rayner named shadow levelling up secretary in Labour reshuffle . 9 September 2023 . The Guardian.
- News: McDonald . Andrew . 4 September 2023 . UK Labour reshuffle: The winners and losers in Keir Starmer's shake-up . 4 September 2023 . Politico.
- News: Crerar . Pippa . 4 September 2023 . Starmer promotes Blairites as Labour thoughts turn to governing . 9 September 2023 . The Guardian.
- News: Paul Seddon . 4 September 2023 . Angela Rayner handed new role as Keir Starmer reshuffles top team . 4 September 2023 . BBC News.
- News: Belger . Tom . 5 September 2023 . 'Labour's shadow cabinet reshuffle: Not everything is as clear as it looks' . 28 September 2023 . LabourList.
- News: Fisher . Andrew . 4 September 2023 . The Labour reshuffle leaves Starmer surrounded by yes-men . 4 September 2023 . i.
- News: Jarvis . Chris . 4 September 2023 . 'You do not see a space for a mental health portfolio in a Labour cabinet': Rosena Allin-Khan resigns from Labour frontbench . 4 September 2023 . Left Foot Forward.
- News: Keane . Daniel . 4 September 2023 . Shadow mental health minister resigns with swipe at Keir Starmer . 4 September 2023 . Evening Standard.
- News: Barradale . Greg . Shadow mental health minister's resignation sends 'worrying message' about Keir Starmer's Labour . 4 September 2023 . The Big Issue.
- News: Ione Wells . 4 September 2023 . Labour reshuffle: Sir Keir Starmer to shake up shadow cabinet . 5 September 2023 . BBC News.
