Angela Rayner: Major cabinet reshuffle trails deputy PM's exit

Lammy, Cooper, Mahmood. 5th September
Reuters

David Lammy, Yvette Cooper and Shabana Mahmood are on the up as Prime Minister Keir Starmer reshuffles his cabinet following former deputy Angela Rayner's exit.

In a post on X, Crerar said Lammy would move to become deputy prime minister and justice minister, if the changes are confirmed.

Local media reports that Member of Parliament Shabana Mahmood, currently Justice Minister, is expected to take over Cooper’s role at the home office.

The reshuffle was triggered by the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who stepped down after admitting she had underpaid property tax on a new home.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during the Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons in London, Britain, 3 September, 2025.
Reuters
Reuters

Alongside the cabinet changes, Starmer has also reshaped his Downing Street team. Darren Jones, formerly Rachel Reeves’ deputy at the Treasury, has been brought in as chief secretary to the prime minister, overseeing day-to-day delivery of Starmer’s priorities.

Former Treasury official Dan York Smith has been appointed principal private secretary, Baroness Shafik, a former Bank of England deputy governor, will serve as chief economic adviser, and Tim Allan, a former aide to Tony Blair, has returned as executive director of communications.

Starmer told the BBC on Monday that the moves mark the start of “phase two” of his government, with a focus on “delivery, delivery, delivery.”

 
Reuters
Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner arrives for a cabinet meeting at Downing Street in London, Britain, 2 September, 2025.
Reuters

Rayner, 45, was the eighth, and the most senior, ministerial departure from Starmer's team, and the most damaging yet after the British leader offered her his support when she was first accused of avoiding 40,000 pounds ($54,000) in tax.

Rayner apologised to Starmer in her resignation letter. "I deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice," she said.

She also stepped down as a minister and as deputy party leader, a position that Lammy will now be in pole position for.

The independent adviser on ministerial standards ruled Rayner had broken the ministerial code - rules to ensure the conduct of politicians meet the standards of public service - because she failed to heed a warning within legal advice which she said she had relied on to seek expert advice on her complicated financial situation.

The reshuffle comes as Labour trails Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in opinion polls and as Starmer prepares for an autumn budget expected to include further tax rises.

Tags