Labour Party reshuffle - latest: Starmer vows to ‘reset’ UK reputation abroad after changes to top team

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to “reset” the UK’s reputation abroad if Labour wins the next election after reshuffling his top team.

Angela Rayner was appointed shadow levelling up secretary, replacing Lisa Nanday who was given the international development brief.

Asked about Nandy being moved, Starmer told broadcasters: "I think one of the big challenges facing an incoming Labour government will be to reset our position on the international stage.

"That is very important for our reputation, but also of central importance for growth.

"So, I think the international development post is crucially important, working with other members of the shadow cabinet. So, I’m really pleased that we’ve got the team we have in place."

Elsewhere Pat McFadden, Tony Blair’s former political secretary, has taken on the role of Labour’s national campaigns coordinator as the party moves onto an election footing ahead of a poll expected in the spring or summer of next year.

Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary and Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, retained their positions.

Key Points

• Labour leader vows to ‘reset’ UK’s reputation abroad

• Starmer shakes up top team

• Rayner appointed levelling up secretary

• Nandy appointed Intl development minister

• Pat McFadden, Tony Blair’s former political secretary, appointed Labour’s campaign coordinator

Starmer needs to find Rayner a job she will accept - source

09:16 , Matt Mathers

Starmer needs to find a job that his deputy Angela Rayner will accept, according to a report.

“It’s all about Angela,” one party official told the Politico website. “They have to find a role LOTO are happy with her doing, and have to find a role Angela will accept.

“The crossover in that Venn diagram is pretty minimal.”

But aides to Rayner fired a warning shot to the leader over the week, telling the Sun on Sunday they “might try to strike us down and find us more powerful than before”.

07:29 , Matt Mathers

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live politics coverage.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is expected to make changes to his shadow cabinet as MPs return to parliament after the summer recess.

We’ll bring you updates on this story and others from Westminster and elsewhere throughout the day.

Stay tuned for the latest updates.

Keir Starmer ‘to shake up shadow cabinet’ as Sue Gray joins staff

07:36 , Matt Mathers

It is a busy day for the Labour Party with Sue Gray, the former Partygate inquisitor and shadow cabinet permanent secretary, beginning her new job as Starmer’s chief of staff, on top of the shadow cabinet reshuffle.

Ms Gray will finally start her new job with the party on Monday after leaving her high-ranking Whitehall job in March. The move angered Tory MPs who claimed her switch to the opposition party called the civil service’s neutrality into question.

Eleanor Noyce takes a closer look at the latest reshuffle speculation:

Labour reshuffle: Keir Starmer ‘to shake up shadow cabinet’ as Sue Gray joins staff

Starmer vows to not raise income tax if Labour wins next election

07:39 , Matt Mathers

Sir Keir Starmer has promised not to raise income tax if he wins the next general election.

The Labour leader said he would avoid hikes “across the board”, having previously ruled out a wealth tax on the richest in society.

Full report:

Keir Starmer vows to not raise income tax if Labour wins next election

What Westminster will be focusing on as it returns from summer recess

07:41 , Matt Mathers

The government will have a lot on its plate, as will the opposition, Jon Stone explains.

Read Jon’s full analysis piece below:

What Westminster will be focusing on as it returns from summer recess

ICYMI: Labour revives attack ads claiming concrete scandal shows Rishi Sunak does not want schools to be safe

09:09 , Matt Mathers

Labour has revived its controversial attack ads – this time using the concrete scandal to claim Rishi Sunak does not think schools should be safe.

It comes as over 100 schools were told to partially or fully shut buildings over fears that dangerous concrete could collapse, plunging the start of the new academic year into chaos.

The attack advert, posted on social media on Sunday, is a re-working of a controversial graphic pushed out to voters by the party from earlier in the year.

Jon Stone reports:

Latest Labour attack ad claims Rishi Sunak does not want schools to be safe

Stamer needs to find Rayner a job she will accept - source

09:25 , Matt Mathers

Starmer needs to find a job that his deputy Angela Rayner will accept, according to a report.

“It’s all about Angela,” one party official told the Politico website. “They have to find a role LOTO are happy with her doing, and have to find a role Angela will accept.

“The crossover in that Venn diagram is pretty minimal.”

But aides to Rayner fired a warning shot to the leader over the week, telling the Sun on Sunday they “might try to strike us down and find us more powerful than before”.

Analysis: Are Starmer and Rayner about to file for divorce?

10:14 , Matt Mathers

Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, once described her relationship with Starmer as like an “arranged marriage”.

But is their union about to be pushed to the point where the pair might file for divorce?

Historically on the left of the party, Rayner, once tipped as a potential leader, has endured a somewhat uneasy relationship with her boss.

The two have completely contrasting styles and have in the past had disagreements on policy and the future direction of the party.

Those tensions came to a head following Labour’s disastrous defeat at the 2019 Hartlepool by-election, when Starmer tried to sack Rayner but ended up giving her a promotion and six jobs.

With around a 20-point lead in the polls and Labour looking on course for government, Starmer now finds himself in a much stronger position and all the noise this morning suggests Rayner will have her jobs revised.

She will keep her role as deputy leader because she was elected to the position. And allies of Rayner have warned the leader to give his deputy a job she finds acceptable.

Rayner may have to accept whatever changes Starmer decides to make, due to his tightened grip on the party.

But giving Rayner a job she isn’t happy with may cause the leader further headaches down the line.

Shadow environment secretary steps down

10:34 , Matt Mathers

Jim McMahon has stepped down as shadow environment secretary as Starmer begins the shake-up of his top team.

He added that he has been and remains a “firm supporter” of the leader.

McMahon said his decision to step down had been “very difficult” but he was doing so “for the benefit of both my health and family”.

A Labour spokesperson confirmed that the reshuffle was underway.

Angela Rayner replaces Nandy in levelling up brief

10:54 , Matt Mathers

Angela Rayner has replaced Lisa Nandy as shadow levelling up secretary.

The change was confirmed by the Labour Party press office.

“Deputy Leader Angela Rayner MP @AngelaRayner has been appointed Shadow Deputy Prime Minister and Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities,” a statement said.

Rayner also serves as shadow first secretary of state, shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and secretary of state for the future of work.

It is was not immediately clear if any changes had been made to those positions.

Gavin Williamson ordered to apologise for bullying chief whip after he wasn’t invited to Queen’s funeral

11:10 , Matt Mathers

A watchdog has ordered Gavin Williamson to formally apologise to MPs for bullying a colleague who did not allocate him tickets to the late Queen’s funeral.

The Independent Expert Panel found that Sir Gavin had breached rules and that his conduct towards former chief whip Wendy Morton amounted to an “abuse of power” which went “beyond vigorous complaint or political disagreement”.

Jon Stone reports:

Gavin Williamson ordered to apologise for bullying colleague over Queen’s funeral

Starmer ‘delighted’ Rayner has accepted ‘important role'

11:25 , Matt Mathers

Starmer is delighted that Rayner has accepted an “important role” in his top team, Labour has said.

A party source said 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.”

The former shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy is expected to stay in the shadow cabinet.

Lisa Nandy appointed shadow international development minister

11:31 , Matt Mathers

Lisa Nandy has been appointed shadow international development minister, Labour has confirmed.

Nandy was replaced by Rayner as shadow levelling up secretary and the move to international development will be viewed as a demotion, although she remains on Starmer’s front bench.

Nandy, ran for the Labour leadership in 2020 and has reportedly fallen out of favour with Starmer’s office.

Shabana Mahmood MP has been appointed shadow secretary of state for justice,

11:41 , Matt Mathers

Shabana Mahmood MP has been appointed shadow secretary of state for justice, replacing Steve Reed, Archie Mitchell reports.

Mr Reed, who was in charge of Labour’s unsuccessful byelection campaign in Uxbridge, takes on the shadow environment brief.

He in turn takes over from Jim McMahon, who resigned earlier citing health and family pressures.

Nandy ‘looking forward’ to getting ‘stuck in’ to new role

11:45 , Matt Mathers

Nandy is “looking forward” to getting “stuck in” to her new role as shadow international development secretary.

She was replaced by Rayner in the shadow levelling up brief.

A source close to Nandy told The Times’s Patrick Maguire: “We’re proud of the work Lisa has done, spearheading some of our most exciting policy in housing and devolution.

“Lisa is a team player and looks forward to getting stuck into the new role.”

Maguire also reports that Nandy will retain her attendance at shadow cabinet meetings as minister of state for the Foreign Office.

Pat McFadden appointed shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

11:54 , Matt Mathers

Pat McFadden has been appointed shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Labour national campaign coordinator.

The Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East takes the role from Rayner and replaces Mahmood as campaign coordinator.

McFadden, a Blairite who served as the former PM’s political secretary, is seen by Starmer’s office as an effective operator. He previously worked as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury.

He previously served as minister of state for business in Gordon Brown’s government from 2009-10.

Breaking: Rishi Sunak faces another byelection after Chris Pincher suspension upheld

11:57 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak faces another disruptive byelection in a “blue wall” seat after scandal-hit MP Chris Pincher had his suspension upheld.

Mr Pincher has lost his appeal against an eight-week suspension following allegations he drunkenly groped two men at London’s Carlton Club last year.

It paves the way for a potential by-election in the former deputy chief whip’s Tamworth seat, since he looks certain to face a recall petition in her constituency.

More to follow:

Rishi Sunak faces another by-election after Chris Pincher suspension upheld

Liz Kendall takes on shadow work and pensions brief

12:07 , Matt Mathers

Liz Kendall MP has been appointed shadow secretary of state for work and pensions.

Kendall, the Leicester West MP, is also known as a Blairite and has previously run for the leadership.

She leaves the shadow social minister brief.

Jonathan Ashworth demoted to paymaster general

12:13 , Matt Mathers

Jonathan Ashworth has been appointed shadow paymaster general.

The move will be seen as a demotion for Ashworth, who leaves the work and pensions brief.

Ashworth would attend cabinet meetings in his new role if Labour were to win the election.

New jobs for Peter Kyle and Thangam Debbonaire

12:25 , Matt Mathers

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

Peter Kyle MP has been appointed shadow secretary of state for science, innovation and technology.

Kyle is the former shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland and Debbonaire shadow leader of the Commons.

Darren Jones appointed shadow chief secretary to Treasury

12:34 , Matt Mathers

Darren Jones has been appointed shadow chief secretary to the Treasury.

Jones had been tipped for promotion following a number of what were viewed as impressive performances in his role as chair of parliament’s business and trade committee.

He is the MP for Bristol North West.

Hilary Benn appointed shadow Northern Ireland secretary

12:46 , Matt Mathers

Hilary Benn has been appointed shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland, replacing Peter Kyle.

Benn has a wealth of government experience, having served in several departments during the Blair-Brown years.

He held the secretary of state for international development brief from 2003 to 2007 and has a strong background in foreign policy.

New jobs for Nick Thomas-Symonds and Lucy Powell

12:50 , Matt Mathers

Nick Thomas-Symonds has been appointed shadow minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office.

The MP for Torfaen in Wales eaves the shadow international development brief.

Lucy Powell has been appointed shadow leader of the House of Commons, having been replaced by Debbonaire in culture.

Keir Starmer’s new shadow cabinet in full

13:17 , Martha Mchardy

Below is the full list of the new positions in the Labourshadow cabinet, following the latest reorganisation.

Deputy Leader, Shadow Deputy Prime Minister and Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Angela Rayner

Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer: Rachel Reeves

Shadow Secretary of State for Education: Bridget Phillipson

Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department: Yvette Cooper

Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care: Wes Streeting

Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero: Ed Miliband

Shadow Foreign Secretary: David Lammy

Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and National Campaign Coordinator: Pat McFadden

Shadow Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office): Nick Thomas-Symonds

Shadow Paymaster General (Cabinet Office): Jonathan Ashworth

Shadow Secretary of State for Justice: Shabana Mahmood

Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade: Jonathan Reynolds

Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Liz Kendall

Shadow Secretary of State for Defence: John Healey

Shadow Secretary of State for Transport: Louise Haigh

Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport: Thangam Debbonaire

Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities and Chair of the Labour Party: Anneliese Dodds

Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Steve Reed

Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology: Peter Kyle

Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland: Hilary Benn

Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland: Ian Murray

Shadow Secretary of State for Wales: Jo Stevens

Shadow Attorney General: Emily Thornberry

Shadow Cabinet Minister for International Development: Lisa Nandy

Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury: Darren Jones

Deputy National Campaign Coordinator: Ellie Reeves

Shadow Leader of the House of Commons: Lucy Powell

Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Commons: Alan Campbell

Shadow Leader of the House of Lords: Angela Smith

Opposition Chief in the House of Lords: Roy Kennedy

Ellie Reeves appointed deputy national campaigns coordinator

13:34 , Martha Mchardy

Ellie Reeves has been appointed to the shadow cabinet as deputy national campaigns coordinator.

The MP for Lewisham West and Penge was previously shadow minister for prisons and probation, a post she has held since December 2021.

Ms Reeves was shadow solicitor general for England and Wales between April 2020 and December 2021.

Harriet Harman: Starmer’s reshuffle not about ‘internal politics’

14:02 , Martha Mchardy

Veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman has rejected claims Sir Keir Starmer’s reshuffle was about “internal politics”.

Ms Harman said the reshuffle was more about “marshalling a team” in which voters can have confidence.

She told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme: “I would say not to be distracted by the politics of the left, right and centre of the Labour Party and not also to be distracted by the idea of pecking order of jobs.

“The point is in each one of these jobs, are they somebody who is competent and can give hope?”

On the demotion of Lisa Nandy from shadow levelling up secretary to shadow cabinet minister for international development, Ms Harman stressed that “under a future Labour government, international development will be a highly significant role”.

She also rejected the idea that Sir Keir Starmer has moved to the right since becoming Labour leader.

“I think that if you look at the mission statement that Keir Starmer has set out, that is a very progressive, radical and hopeful agenda,” she said.

“And all leaders of the opposition have to build, mould the policy and the organisation of the party. And that’s exactly what Keir Starmer has done.

“So I don’t see it at all as a swerve from one side of the party to another or a watering down of aspiration for the Government.”

She said she saw it instead as a “very solid, confident, determined, but purposeful preparation” for winning the election and serving in government.

Shadow cabinet reshuffle complete

14:22 , Matt Mathers

Starmer appears to have completed his shadow cabinet reshuffle, with no new announcements in the past hour.

As expected, Rachel Reeves, Yvette Cooper and Wes Streeting kept their jobs, while Angela Rayner replaced Lisa Nandy in levelling up.

Ed Miliband (climate) and David Lammy (Foreign Office) were among the other high-profile figures to hold onto their jobs.

Below is a full list of all the changes:

Labour reshuffle: Keir Starmer’s new shadow cabinet in full

Nandy moved as part of ‘reset’ to UK’s reputation abroad

15:36 , Matt Mathers

Lisa Nandy has been moved to cover the international development brief as part of a bid to "reset" the UK’s position on the world stage under a future Labour government, according to Sir Keir Starmer.

The Labour leader, asked about Ms Nandy being moved from her shadow levelling-up secretary role during his top team reshuffle, told broadcasters in Westminster: "I think one of the big challenges facing an incoming Labour government will be to reset our position on the international stage.

"That is very important for our reputation, but also of central importance for growth.

"So, I think the international development post is crucially important, working with other members of the shadow cabinet. So, I’m really pleased that we’ve got the team we have in place."

16:08 , Matt Mathers

We’re wrapping up our coverage of Labour’s shadow cabinet reshuffle.

Thanks for reading and join us again soon.

Enjoy the rest of your day.