Keir Starmer handed his deputy, Angela Rayner, a significant promotion on Sunday night after a day of fraught negotiations. She becomes shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and shadow secretary for the future of work, while retaining joint control over party matters as deputy leader. The reshuffle was delayed by a prolonged standoff after leaked plans to sack Rayner as party chair sparked outcry.
Rayner initially refused a social care brief, viewing it as a demotion, and insisted on maintaining influence over internal Labour politics. Her new role allows her to shadow Michael Gove and leads on issues of corruption and the future of the economy. Allies said she would be more visible in taking the fight to the Tories.
Starmer also promoted Rachel Reeves to shadow chancellor, replacing Anneliese Dodds, who takes joint control of the party's policy review. Nick Brown was sacked as chief whip and replaced by Alan Campbell. The moves are likely to inflame tensions with the party's left, as Reeves is seen as a close ally of Starmer.
Rayner tweeted: 'I will work tirelessly to reform our party and deliver a policy agenda that will enable us to reconnect with the voters that we need to win.' She added: 'United we stand, divided we fall.' Starmer said the party must refocus on bold ideas and the priorities of the British people.
Other promotions include Wes Streeting to shadow child poverty secretary, Lucy Powell to shadow housing secretary, and Thangam Debbonaire to shadow leader of the Commons. The reshuffle followed disappointing local election results for Labour, though the party saw successes in Wales and several mayoralties.
