Keir Starmer Carries Out Major Cabinet Reshuffle After Angela Rayner Resignation

3 min read05 September 2025

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has made numerous major changes to his Cabinet after the departure of Angela Rayner as deputy prime minister.

Rayner quit as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary on Friday after being found by Starmer's independent ethics adviser to have breached the ministerial code over unpaid stamp duty. She also resigned as deputy leader of the Labour Party.

Her resignation was followed almost immediately by news that the Prime Minister would carry out a major restructuring of his Cabinet.

David Lammy is the new Deputy Prime Minister, replacing Rayner, and has also been removed as Foreign Secretary to be made Justice Secretary.

Shabana Mahmood has left the Ministry of Justice to become the new Home Secretary, replacing Yvette Cooper, who is the new Foreign Secretary.

Elsewhere, Steve Reed has left the Department for Environment to replace Rayner as Housing Secretary. He has been replaced at Defra by Emma Reynolds.

After being made the chief secretary to 10 Downing Street earlier this week, Darren Jones has been given the additional role of chancellor to the Duchy of Lancaster, making him a key figure in the Starmer government.

He replaces Pat McFadden, who has been appointed to lead an expanded Department for Work and Pensions.

As well as Rayner, Lucy Powell and Ian Murray have left the government. They were the Commons leader and Scotland secretary respectively.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Health Secretary Wes Streeting are continuing in their senior roles. Lisa Nandy and Bridget Phillipson remain as Culture Secretary and Education Secretary respectively, despite recent speculation that they would be moved.

Here are the appointments made by Starmer on Friday:

David Lammy — Secretary of State for Justice and Deputy Prime Minister

Darren Jones — Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister

Yvette Cooper — Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

Shabana Mahmood — Secretary of State for the Home Department.

Steve Reed — Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Pat McFadden — Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Peter Kyle — Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade

Liz Kendall — Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology

Emma Reynolds — Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Douglas Alexander — Secretary of State for Scotland

Jonathan Reynolds — Chief Whip