"Morgan Is Taking Over": What We Learned From Keir Starmer's Major Reshuffle
4 min read
Keir Starmer's reshuffle provided a clear glimpse into the government's "phase two" priorities, but is already being described as a No 10 power grab. "Morgan [McSweeney] is taking over big time," said one Labour MP.
Angela Rayner's resignation as deputy prime minister, housing secretary and Labour's deputy leader on Friday was followed by what turned out to be a major shake-up of the Prime Minister's ministerial team, both at Cabinet and at junior level.
No 10 figures had been holding out from doing a reshuffle until they felt that they were in a position of strength, PoliticsHome understands, but as the saying goes, ‘never let a crisis go to waste’. It also meant that it took place on the same day as Nigel Farage's conference speech in Birmingham, allowing Starmer to steal some of the spotlight from Reform UK.
At Cabinet level, it was more a case of people being moved around the top table than new blood being given a chance, with just two junior ministers — Douglas Alexander and Emma Reynolds — being promoted to big jobs.
That said, the movements were nevertheless indicative.
Shabana Mahmood replacing Yvette Cooper as home secretary is seen as a signal of No 10's intent on the thorny issue of small boats, with the former justice secretary regarded as more hardline on tackling Channel crossings than Cooper, who is now foreign secretary. Mahmood, recently described by former Tory secretary of state Michael Gove as the government's most impressive figure, is also a close ally of Morgan McSweeney, chief of staff to Starmer.
The Home Office was completely cleared out — another sign that the PM wants to breathe new impetus into the effort to tackle illegal migration.
Angela Eagle and Diana Johnson were moved to roles in other departments, with Sarah Jones and Alex Norris brought in. They were joined by Dover MP Mike Tapp, who, quickly after being elected in July 2024, became the Reform-attacker-in-chief on the Labour back benches.
Security minister Dan Jarvis is the only Home Office minister left in post, but with a bolstered role in the Cabinet Office, again suggesting that No 10 wants to throw more weight behind Starmer's pledge to 'smash the gangs'.
The Cabinet Office also had a major shake-up, with Pat McFadden leaving his role as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to take over from Liz Kendall as work and pensions secretary in a beefed-up “super ministry” promoting growth. Crucially, he is expected to be tasked with persuading Labour MPs to support welfare reforms which Starmer abandoned earlier this year after an extraordinary backbench rebellion.
Darren Jones, who was appointed Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister just days before Rayner's resignation on Friday, added McFadden’s old role to his job title, further bolstering his position at the very centre of government. He will be supported by Chris Ward, perhaps Starmer’s closest ally in the House of Commons, who was promoted to the department along with newbies Satvir Kaur and Josh Simons (covering for Kaur while she is on maternity leave).
Ward and McSweeney both worked for Starmer when Labour was in opposition, while McSweeney was replaced by Simons as head of supportive think tank Labour Together.
The new Cabinet Office team has been asked to help support the government's delivery unit, with the government identifying the cost-of-living, NHS waiting lists, and small boats as the three key issues on which its fate at the next general election will hinge.
Abena Oppong-Asare, the MP for Erith and Thamesmead, has replaced Ward as Starmer’s parliamentary private secretary — a vital role connecting the PM with the Parliamentary Labour Party following complaints about No 10's treatment of backbenchers.
The whips team was also overhauled, with Alan Campbell replaced by former business secretary Jonathan Reynolds following complaints from some Labour MPs that the former had not been firm enough with rebellious backbenchers.
Reynolds was joined by loyalist MPs with strong links to Downing Street.
The appointment of Imogen Walker, McSweeney’s wife, to assistant whip prompted accusations from some of her colleagues that it was tantamount to a No 10 power grab. “Morgan’s taking over big time”, one told PoliticsHome. Other loyalists include Gregor Poynton and Jake Richards. The latter, who is now assistant whip and a junior justice minister, has been one of Labour's most vocal proponents of reforming the European Convention on Human Rights as a way of tackling the small boats issue.
Amy Richards, Cooper’s former chief of staff at the home office – who is both married to Poynton and sister of Richards – is taking over from Claire Reynolds as No 10 political director, working closely with Starmer and McSweeney.
Rebel MPs who have defied the PM over the last year were notably absent from the reshuffle.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, who some thought might be moved out of government after it was reported that she was involved in a WhatsApp group used by Labour rebels to torpedo Starmer's welfare reforms, was given a sideways move to the housing department.
