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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Beril Naz Hassan

Labour shadow cabinet reshuffle: Who’s in and who’s out of Keir Starmer’s team?

Sir Keir Starmer the Labour party Angela Rayner Lisa Nandy Jonathan Ashworth Nick ThomasSymonds Pat McFadden Shabana Mahmood Steve Reed Thangam Debbonaire

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has reshuffled his shadow cabinet this week, revealing a swathe of changes.

The party’s long-awaited move coincided with MPs returning to Westminster from their summer break, as well as Sue Gray’s first day as Starmer’s chief of staff.

While some MPs have been completely removed from the inner circle, others are staying.

Here is a comprehensive look at what Labour’s shadow cabinet now looks like, as well as a brief look at each member.

Angela Rayner

Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities

Angela Rayner has been revealed as the MP who will become deputy prime minister if Labour wins the next election. She will also act as the Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities.

The 43-year-old politician has been an MP for Ashton-under-Lyne since 2015.

Following the announcement, a Labour source has told the PA news agency: “Keir is delighted that Angela has accepted this important role; in addition, she will continue to be the strategic lead on Labour’s new deal for working people.”

Lisa Nandy

Shadow Cabinet Minister for International Development

Lisa Nandy has become the Shadow Cabinet Minister for International Development.

She was previously the Shadow Levelling Up Secretary, a role that now belongs to Angela Rayner, which has led to some interpreting the change as a demotion for Nandy.

Nandy, 44, has been an MP for Wigan since 2010 as her constituency’s first female MP and one of the first Asian female MPs in Britain’s history.

Shabana Mahmood

Shadow Secretary of State for Justice

Shabana Mahmood has become Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Justice.

She has been an MP for Birmingham Ladywood since 2010, and studied law at Oxford University’s Lincoln College before becoming a qualified barrister specialising in professional indemnity.

Mahmood is one of the UK’s first female Muslim MPs.

Liz Kendall

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary

Liz Kendall is now the Labour Party’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, replacing Jonathan Ashworth, who has been given a new role.

Previously, she worked as the Shadow Health Minister, with a special focus on social care.

The MP for Leicester West, who studied history at Cambridge University’s Queen’s College, has served her constituents since 2010.

Jonathan Ashworth

Shadow Paymaster General

Jonathan Ashworth, who used to work as the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, has become the party’s Shadow Paymaster General.

The 44-year-old MP, who has served Leicester South since 2011, used to be an adviser to Gordon Brown, and the Head of Party Relations for Ed Miliband.

Thangam Debbonaire

Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport

Thangam Debbonaire has become Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

The Bristol West MP, who has been holding the seat since 2015, has been the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons since May 2021 and served as the Shadow Secretary of State for Housing between 2020 and 2021.

Debbonaire previously resigned as Jemery Corbyn’s Shadow Arts and Culture Minister in 2016 due to her lack of confidence in the party leader.

Steve Reed

Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs

Steve Reed has been appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs.

Reed, 59, has been an MP for Croydon North since a 2012 by-election. He used to work in education publishing after studying English at Sheffield University.

Lucy Powell

Shadow Leader of the House of Commons

Lucy Powell has been made the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, directly swapping roles with Thangam Debbonaire.

The 48-year-old politician is the MP for Manchester Central, a seat she has held since 2012.

Prior to her election, she completed her studies in chemistry at Oxford University’s Somerville College and King’s College London, before working in PR.

Hillary Benn

Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Hillary Benn has become the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

The veteran parliamentarian has represented Leeds Central since 1999. He served in the cabinet between 2003 and 2010 as a member of the government of two Labour prime ministers: Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

More recently, he worked as the Shadow Foreign Secretary and Chairman of the Brexit Select Committee.

Peter Kyle

Shadow Minister for Science, Innovation, and Technology

Peter Kyle has been appointed Shadow Minister for Science, Innovation, and Technology. He was previously the Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary.

The politician, who is open about his dyslexia and homosexuality, has served Hove since 2015. He has a background in charity work.

Pat McFadden

Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

McFadden has become the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the national campaign co-ordinator for the party,

The Wolverhampton South East MP has been serving his constituents since 2005 and has been the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury since 2021.

Darren Jones

Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Jones has become the party’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, a role that used to be held by Pat McFadden.

The Bristol West MP has served as the chair of the House of Commons Business and Trade Select Committee since 2020.

Nick Thomas-Symonds

Labour Shadow Minister without portfolio

‌Nick Thomas-Symonds is now a Labour Shadow Minister without a portfolio in the cabinet office. This means that he will be generally contributing to the running of government.

The MP for Torfaen in Wales was previously the Shadow Minister for International Trade.

Ellie Reeves

Deputy National Campaign Co-ordinator

Ellie Reeves is now the party’s Deputy National Campaign Co-ordinator.

The MP for Lewisham West and Penge has held her seat since 2017 and worked as an employment law barrister representing trade unions before becoming a politician.

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