Angela Rayner has been appointed shadow levelling up secretary in a long-awaited reshuffle by Keir Starmer, with the deputy leader set to take on the role of deputy prime minister if Labour wins the next general election. The changes saw several MPs on the right of the party promoted, while Lisa Nandy, the previous levelling up spokesperson, was moved to the international development brief.
Pat McFadden was promoted from the Treasury team to run the Cabinet Office brief and become Labour's national campaigns coordinator. Liz Kendall, a former shadow health minister and contender for the Labour leadership in 2015, replaces Jonathan Ashworth as shadow work and pensions secretary, while Peter Kyle was promoted to shadow science secretary.
Starmer said the party now had a "strong team on the pitch" ahead of the election. The reshuffle was conducted smoothly, with Sue Gray, Starmer's new chief of staff, playing a leading role, including in negotiations with Rayner over her responsibilities for Labour's new deal for working people.
Other senior figures, including Rachel Reeves and Yvette Cooper, retained their roles. Shabana Mahmood takes over as shadow justice secretary from Steve Reed, and Lucy Powell and Thangam Debbonaire swapped roles as shadow culture secretary and shadow Commons leader. Hilary Benn replaces Kyle as shadow Northern Ireland secretary.
Darren Jones becomes shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, while Nick Thomas-Symonds was moved to a role as shadow minister without portfolio. Reaction was initially muted, with a source close to Nandy describing her as "a team player" looking forward to the new role.
