Shadow Cabinet of Keir Starmer

For the wider team, see Opposition frontbench of Keir Starmer.

UK shadow cabinet (2020-2024)

Starmer Shadow Cabinet

Shadow cabinet of the United Kingdom
2020–2024

Starmer with members of his shadow cabinet at a session of Prime Minister's Questions in 2022

Date formed| 4 April 2020
Date dissolved| 5 July 2024
People and organisations
Monarch| Elizabeth II
Charles III
Leader of the Opposition| Keir Starmer
Shadow Deputy PM| Angela Rayner
Member party|

* Labour Party

Status in legislature| Official Opposition

206 / 650 (32%)

History
Legislature terms| 2019 UK Parliament
Incoming formation| 2020 leadership election
Outgoing formation| 2024 general election
Predecessor| Shadow Cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn
Successor| Shadow Cabinet of Rishi Sunak

Keir Starmer assumed the position of Leader of the Opposition after being elected as leader of the Labour Party on 4 April 2020; the election was triggered by Jeremy Corbyn's resignation following the Labour Party's electoral defeat at the 2019 general election when Boris Johnson formed a majority Conservative government. Starmer appointed his Shadow cabinet on 5 and 6 April. He reshuffled his Shadow Cabinet five times: in June 2020, May 2021, June 2021, November 2021 and 2023.

His Shadow Cabinet appointments included MPs associated with the various wings of the party. Angela Rayner was appointed deputy labour leader and shadow deputy prime minister, while Rachel Reeves and Yvette Cooper were appointed as shadow chancellor and shadow home secretary, respectively. Former Labour leader Ed Miliband was appointed shadow energy and climate secretary. Other notable appointments included David Lammy as shadow foreign secretary and Wes Streeting as shadow health secretary. A reshuffle of the Shadow Cabinet was undertaken in September 2023, which was dominated by Blairites and demoted MPs on the soft left.[1][2][3][4][5]

Following the achievement by the Labour Party of a majority in the 2024 general election, the shadow cabinet was disbanded after Starmer became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 5 July 2024, succeeding Rishi Sunak of the Conservative Party.

## Shadow Cabinet

[edit]

### September 2023 – July 2024

[edit]

Portfolio  | Shadow Minister  | Constituency  | Term

|
|
|

Shadow cabinet ministers
Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Labour Party |  |  | Keir Starmer | Holborn and St Pancras | Apr 2020 – July 2024
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party |  |  | Angela Rayner | Ashton-under-Lyne | Apr 2020 – July 2024
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities | Sep 2023 – July 2024
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer |  |  | Rachel Reeves | Leeds West | May 2021 – July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs |  |  | David Lammy | Tottenham | Nov 2021 – July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department |  |  | Yvette Cooper | Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford | Nov 2021 – July 2024
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Labour Party National Campaign Co-ordinator  |  |  | Pat McFadden | Wolverhampton South East | Sep 2023 – July 2024
Shadow Lord Chancellor
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice |  |  | Shabana Mahmood | Birmingham Ladywood | Sep 2023 – July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence |  |  | John Healey | Wentworth and Dearne | Apr 2020 – July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology |  |  | Peter Kyle | Hove | Sep 2023 – July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero |  |  | Ed Miliband | Doncaster North | Nov 2021 – July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade |  |  | Jonathan Reynolds | Stalybridge and Hyde | Sep 2023 – July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions |  |  | Liz Kendall | Leicester West | Sep 2023 – July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care |  |  | Wes Streeting | Ilford North | Nov 2021 – July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Education |  |  | Bridget Phillipson | Houghton and Sunderland South | Nov 2021 – July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport |  |  | Thangam Debbonaire | Bristol West | Sep 2023 – July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |  |  | Steve Reed | Croydon North | Sep 2023 – July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport |  |  | Louise Haigh | Sheffield Heeley | Nov 2021 – July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland |  |  | Hilary Benn | Leeds Central | Sep 2023 – July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland |  |  | Ian Murray | Edinburgh South | Apr 2020 – July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales |  |  | Jo Stevens | Cardiff Central | Nov 2021 – July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities |  |  | Anneliese Dodds | Oxford East | Sept 2021 – July 2024
Chair of the Labour Party | May 2021 – July 2024
Shadow Minister without Portfolio |  |  | Nick Thomas-Symonds | Torfaen | Sep 2023 – July 2024
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury |  |  | Darren Jones | Bristol North West | Sep 2023 – July 2024
Shadow Cabinet Minister for International Development |  |  | Lisa Nandy | Wigan | Sep 2023 – July 2024
Shadow Paymaster General |  |  | Jonathan Ashworth | Leicester South | Sep 2023 – July 2024
Shadow Attorney General for England and Wales |  |  | Emily Thornberry | Islington South and Finsbury | Nov 2021 – July 2024
Deputy National Campaign Coordinator  |  |  | Ellie Reeves | Lewisham West and Penge | Sep 2023 – July 2024
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons |  |  | Lucy Powell | Manchester Central | Sep 2023 – July 2024
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Commons |  |  | Alan Campbell | Tynemouth | May 2021 – July 2024
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords |  |  | Baroness Smith of Basildon | Member of the
House of Lords | May 2015 – July 2024
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords |  |  | Lord Kennedy of Southwark | Member of the
House of Lords | Jun 2021 – July 2024

### November 2021 – September 2023

[edit]

Key  | Sits in the House of Commons

|

| Sits in the House of Lords
Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet of the United Kingdom[6][7][8] Portfolio  | Shadow Minister  | Constituency  | Term

|
|
|

Shadow cabinet ministers
Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Labour Party |  |  | Keir Starmer[a] | Holborn and St Pancras | Apr 2020 - July 2024
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
Shadow First Secretary of State |  |  | Angela Rayner[a] | Ashton-under-Lyne | Apr 2020 - July 2024
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office
Shadow Secretary of State for the Future of Work
| May 2021 - Sep 2023
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer |  |  | Rachel Reeves[a] | Leeds West | May 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs |  |  | David Lammy[a] | Tottenham | Nov 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department |  |  | Yvette Cooper[a] | Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford | Nov 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Lord Chancellor
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice |  |  | Steve Reed | Croydon North | Nov 2021 - Sep 2023
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence |  |  | John Healey[a] | Wentworth and Dearne | Apr 2020 - July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero |  |  | Ed Miliband[a] | Doncaster North | Nov 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Industrial Strategy |  |  | Jonathan Reynolds | Stalybridge and Hyde | Nov 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade |  |  | Nick Thomas-Symonds[a] | Torfaen | Nov 2021 - Sep 2023
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions |  |  | Jonathan Ashworth[a] | Leicester South | Nov 2021 - Sep 2023
Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care |  |  | Wes Streeting | Ilford North | Nov 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Education |  |  | Bridget Phillipson | Houghton and Sunderland South | Nov 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport |  |  | Lucy Powell | Manchester Central | Nov 2021 - Sep 2023
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |  |  | Jim McMahon | Oldham West and Royton | Nov 2021 - Sep 2023
Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities |  |  | Lisa Nandy | Wigan | Nov 2021 - Sep 2023
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport |  |  | Louise Haigh | Sheffield Heeley | Nov 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland |  |  | Peter Kyle | Hove | Nov 2021 - Sep 2023
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland |  |  | Ian Murray | Edinburgh South | Apr 2020 - July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales |  |  | Jo Stevens[9] | Cardiff Central | Nov 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities |  |  | Anneliese Dodds | Oxford East | Sept 2021 - July 2024
Chair of the Labour Party | May 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Minister of State at the Cabinet Office |  |  | Baroness Chapman of Darlington | Member of the
House of Lords | Jun 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury |  |  | Pat McFadden[a] | Wolverhampton South East | Nov 2021 - Sep 2023
Shadow Cabinet Minister for International Development |  |  | Preet Gill | Birmingham Edgbaston | Apr 2020 - Sep 2023
Shadow Cabinet Minister for Mental Health |  |  | Rosena Allin-Khan | Tooting | Apr 2020 - Sep 2023
Labour Party National Campaign Coordinator  |  |  | Shabana Mahmood | Birmingham Ladywood | May 2021 - Sep 2023
Shadow Attorney General for England and Wales |  |  | Emily Thornberry[a] | Islington South and Finsbury | Nov 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons |  |  | Thangam Debbonaire | Bristol West | May 2021 - Sep 2023
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Commons |  |  | Alan Campbell[a] | Tynemouth | May 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords |  |  | Baroness Smith of Basildon[a] | Member of the
House of Lords | May 2015 - July 2024
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords |  |  | Lord Kennedy of Southwark[a] | Member of the
House of Lords | Jun 2021 - July 2024

### May 2021 – November 2021

[edit]

Key  | Sits in the House of Commons

|

| [[Member of the
House of Lords|Sits in the House of Lords]]
Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet of the United Kingdom[6][7][8] [edit]  Portfolio  | Shadow Minister  | Constituency  | Term

|
|
|

Shadow cabinet ministers
Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Labour Party |  |  | Keir Starmer[a] | Holborn and St Pancras | Apr 2020 - July 2024
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Shadow First Secretary of State |  |  | Angela Rayner[a] | Ashton-under-Lyne | Apr 2020 - July 2024
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office
Shadow Secretary of State for the Future of Work
| May 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer |  |  | Rachel Reeves | Leeds West | May 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Foreign Secretary |  |  | Lisa Nandy | Wigan | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Home Secretary |  |  | Nick Thomas-Symonds[a] | Torfaen | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Lord Chancellor
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice |  |  | David Lammy[a] | Tottenham | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence |  |  | John Healey[a] | Wentworth and Dearne | Apr 2020 - July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy |  |  | Ed Miliband[a] | Doncaster North | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade |  |  | Emily Thornberry[a] | Islington South and Finsbury | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions |  |  | Jonathan Reynolds | Stalybridge and Hyde | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care |  |  | Jonathan Ashworth[a] | Leicester South | Oct 2016 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Education |  |  | Kate Green | Stretford and Urmston | Jun 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport |  |  | Jo Stevens | Cardiff Central | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |  |  | Luke Pollard | Plymouth Sutton and Devonport | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government |  |  | Steve Reed | Croydon North | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Housing |  |  | Lucy Powell | Manchester Central | May 2021 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport |  |  | Jim McMahon | Oldham West and Royton | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for International Development |  |  | Preet Gill | Birmingham Edgbaston | Apr 2020 - Sep 2023
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland |  |  | Louise Haigh | Sheffield Heeley | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland |  |  | Ian Murray | Edinburgh South | Apr 2020 - July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales |  |  | Nia Griffith | Llanelli | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities |  |  | Anneliese Dodds | Oxford East | Sept 2021 - July 2024
Chair of the Labour Party | May 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Employment Rights and Protections |  |  | Andy McDonald | Middlesbrough | Apr 2020 - Sep 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Mental Health |  |  | Rosena Allin-Khan | Tooting | Apr 2020 - Sep 2023
Shadow Secretary of State for Young People and Democracy |  |  | Cat Smith | Lancaster and Fleetwood | Jun 2016 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Child Poverty |  |  | Wes Streeting | Ilford North | May 2021 - Nov 2021
Shadow Minister of State at the Cabinet Office |  |  | Jenny Chapman | Member of the
House of Lords | Jun 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury |  |  | Bridget Phillipson | Houghton and Sunderland South | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Labour Party National Campaign Coordinator  |  |  | Shabana Mahmood | Birmingham Ladywood | May 2021 - Sep 2023
Shadow Attorney General for England and Wales |  |  | Charlie Falconer[a] | Member of the
House of Lords | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons |  |  | Thangam Debbonaire | Bristol West | May 2021 - Sep 2023
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Commons |  |  | Alan Campbell[a] | Tynemouth | May 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords |  |  | Angela Smith[a] | Member of the
House of Lords | May 2015 - July 2024
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords |  |  | Roy Kennedy | Member of the
House of Lords | Jun 2021 - July 2024

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y This member is also a Privy Counsellor

### April 2020 – May 2021

[edit]

Key  | Sits in the House of Commons

|

| Sits in the House of Lords
Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet of the United Kingdom[6][7][8][edit]  Portfolio  | Shadow Minister  | Constituency  | Term

|
|
|

Shadow cabinet ministers
Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Labour Party |  |  | Keir Starmer[a] | Holborn and St Pancras | Apr 2020 - July 2024
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
Shadow First Secretary of State
Chair of the Labour Party |  |  | Angela Rayner[a] | Ashton-under-Lyne | Apr 2020 - July 2024
Chair of the Labour Party | Apr 2020 - May 2021
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer |  |  | Anneliese Dodds | Oxford East | Apr 2020 - May 2021
Shadow Foreign Secretary |  |  | Lisa Nandy | Wigan | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Home Secretary |  |  | Nick Thomas-Symonds[a] | Torfaen | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office |  |  | Rachel Reeves | Leeds West | Apr 2020 - May 2021
Shadow Lord Chancellor
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice |  |  | David Lammy[a] | Tottenham | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence |  |  | John Healey[a] | Wentworth and Dearne | Apr 2020 - July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy |  |  | Ed Miliband[a] | Doncaster North | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade |  |  | Emily Thornberry[a] | Islington South and Finsbury | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions |  |  | Jonathan Reynolds | Stalybridge and Hyde | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care |  |  | Jonathan Ashworth[a] | Leicester South | Oct 2016 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Education |  |  | Kate Green | Stretford and Urmston | Jun 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport |  |  | Jo Stevens | Cardiff Central | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury |  |  | Bridget Phillipson | Houghton and Sunderland South | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |  |  | Luke Pollard | Plymouth Sutton and Devonport | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government |  |  | Steve Reed | Croydon North | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Housing |  |  | Thangam Debbonaire | Bristol West | Apr 2020 - May 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport |  |  | Jim McMahon | Oldham West and Royton | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for International Development |  |  | Preet Gill | Birmingham Edgbaston | Apr 2020 - Sep 2023
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland |  |  | Louise Haigh | Sheffield Heeley | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland |  |  | Ian Murray | Edinburgh South | Apr 2020 - July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales |  |  | Nia Griffith | Llanelli | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities |  |  | Anneliese Dodds | Oxford East | Sep 2021 - July 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Employment Rights and Protections  |  |  | Andy McDonald | Middlesbrough | Apr 2020 - Sep 2021
Shadow Minister for Mental Health |  |  | Rosena Allin-Khan | Tooting | Apr 2020 - Sep 2023
Shadow Minister for Young People and Voter Engagement |  |  | Cat Smith | Lancaster and Fleetwood | Jun 2016 - Nov 2021
Shadow Attorney General for England and Wales |  |  | Charlie Falconer[a] | Member of the
House of Lords | Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons |  |  | Valerie Vaz[a] | Walsall South | Oct 2016 - May 2021
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Commons |  |  | Nick Brown[a] | Newcastle upon Tyne East | Oct 2016 - May 2021
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords |  |  | Angela Smith[a] | Member of the
House of Lords | May 2015 - July 2024
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords |  |  | Tommy McAvoy[a] | Member of the
House of Lords | Jan 2018 - Jun 2021

## Shadow Ministers by department

[edit]

Main article: Official Opposition frontbench

In April 2020, Starmer's shadow cabinet was appointed over the course of the week following the leadership election, which included former leader Ed Miliband, as well as both of the candidates he defeated in the contest. He also appointed Anneliese Dodds as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, making her the first woman to serve in that position in either a ministerial or shadow ministerial capacity.[10]

On 25 June 2020, Starmer dismissed his former leadership rival Rebecca Long-Bailey from her post as Shadow Secretary of State for Education. Long-Bailey had refused to delete a tweet calling the actress Maxine Peake an "absolute diamond" and linking to an interview in The Independent in which Peake said that the practice of kneeling on someone's neck by US police, as used in the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, was "learnt from seminars with Israeli secret services". The original article stated that "the Israeli police has denied this."[11] Starmer said that because the article "contained anti-Semitic conspiracy theories" it should not have been shared by Long-Bailey.[12][13] The decision to dismiss Long-Bailey was criticised by the Socialist Campaign Group, whose members met with Starmer about the decision.[14] The decision was welcomed by some Jewish groups including the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Labour Movement. Starmer said that "restoring trust with the Jewish community is a number one priority. Antisemitism takes many different forms and it is important that we all are vigilant against it."[15][16] On 27 June, he replaced her with Kate Green.[17]

On 23 September 2020, three frontbenchers (Olivia Blake, Nadia Whittome, and Beth Winter) rebelled against Labour's position of abstention on the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill and voted against the bill; all three lost their frontbench roles over the issue. This move was seen as an indication of the firm discipline Starmer intended to exert over his party.[18]

In the third reading of the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill on 15 October 2020, the Labour Party stance was to abstain yet 34 Labour MPs rebelled, including shadow ministers Dan Carden and Margaret Greenwood, and five parliamentary private secretaries who all resigned from their frontbench roles. These 34 were penalised the next day by being put on probation for going against the one-line whip to abstain.[19]

In April 2023, after writing an article in The Observer, former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott was suspended as a Labour MP pending an investigation.[20][21] In the article, Abbott claimed that although "many types of white people with points of difference" such as Jewish, Irish or Traveller people can experience prejudice, they are not subject to racism "all their lives".[21][20] Abbott later apologised for the article, saying that she had erroneously sent an early draft of her article.[20] A Labour Party statement said that the comments were "deeply offensive and wrong".[21] Starmer said that she was suspended due to anti-Semitism.[20]

Emily Thornberry expressed her disappointment at not being appointed to a senior ministerial position by Sir Keir Starmer, despite her extensive tenure as shadow attorney general. She emphasised her contributions to Labour's policies and committed to supporting Starmer's government despite her personal setback.[22]

## Reshuffles

[edit]

### May 2021 Shadow Cabinet reshuffle

[edit]

In the aftermath of relatively poor results in the 2021 local elections, Starmer carried out a May 2021 shadow cabinet reshuffle. Starmer dismissed Angela Rayner as Chair of the Labour Party and National Campaign Coordinator following the elections.[23][24] The move was criticised by John McDonnell, former Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.[25][26] The major outcome of the reshuffle was the demotion of the Shadow Chancellor, Anneliese Dodds.[27] Rachel Reeves was appointed as the new Shadow Chancellor and Angela Rayner succeeded Reeves as Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Nick Brown was dismissed as Chief Whip and replaced by his deputy, Alan Campbell. Valerie Vaz departed as Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and was replaced by Thangam Debbonaire, who in turn was succeeded as Shadow Secretary of State for Housing by Lucy Powell. On 11 May 2021, Starmer's Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) Carolyn Harris resigned, which The Times reported was after allegedly spreading false rumours about the private life of Angela Rayner prior to her dismissal.[28][29] Sharon Hodgson was appointed as Starmer's new PPS.[30]

### November 2021 Shadow Cabinet reshuffle

[edit]

The November 2021 shadow cabinet reshuffle, which was considered a surprise,[31] included the promotion of Yvette Cooper and David Lammy to Shadow Home Secretary and Shadow Foreign Secretary, respectively, while Miliband was moved from Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Industrial Strategy to Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero. The appointment of Cooper in particular was described by some commentators as a sign of Labour further splitting from the Corbyn leadership and moving to the right.[32] The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg and Robert Peston of ITV News said that the reshuffle aimed to "combine experience and youth" and end "the fatuous project of trying to ... placate Labour's warring factions", and instead chose "shadow ministers for their perceived ability".[33][34] In the New Statesman, journalist Stephen Bush suggested that Starmer had "removed underperforming shadow cabinet ministers and rewarded his biggest hitters – but the resulting shadow cabinet looks to be less than the sum of its parts."[35]

### 2023

[edit]

Main article: 2023 British shadow cabinet reshuffle

In September 2023, Starmer reshuffled his shadow cabinet for the third time since taking over as leader.[36][37] Writers from The Guardian and Politico said that the Blairite wing of the party had prospered in the reshuffle to the detriment of the soft left of the party.[38][39] One shadow minister, said of the reshuffle, "It's all the Blairites" and called it "an entirely factional takeover".[40] Starmer said that he was putting his "strongest possible players on the pitch" ahead of the upcoming general election.[41] Tom Belger writing for LabourList described the reshuffle as a continuing of "Labour's right-ward march".[42]

Starmer's deputy Angela Rayner received the shadow levelling up post, replacing Lisa Nandy who was demoted to the shadow minister for international development.[41] The most senior members of the shadow cabinet remained in their positions.[41] Rosena Allin-Khan, who was the shadow minister for mental health before the reshuffle, resigned from the Shadow Cabinet, criticising shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting's advocacy for outsourcing the NHS to the private sector.[43] She also said that Starmer did "not see a space for a mental health portfolio in a Labour cabinet".[44][45][46] The reshuffle coincided with the start of the tenure of Sue Gray as Starmer's new chief of staff.[47]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m This member is also a Privy Counsellor

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Chaplain, Chloe (4 September 2023). "Keir Starmer purges soft left and surrounds himself with Blairites for General Election push". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
2. ^ "Keir Starmer accused of promoting 'narrow band of Blairites'". The Independent. 4 September 2023. Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
3. ^ Brown, Alexander (4 September 2023). "Labour reshuffle: Sir Keir Starmer's reshuffle purges left with right in complete control as Lisa Nandy suffers demotion". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
4. ^ Cunliffe, Rachel (4 September 2023). "Keir Starmer's reshuffle was politically ruthless". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
5. ^ Chaplain, Chloe (4 September 2023). "Keir Starmer purges soft left and surrounds himself with Blairites for General Election push". inews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
6. ^ a b c "Keir Starmer appoints Shadow Cabinet". The Labour Party. Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
7. ^ a b c "Keir Starmer appoints Labour frontbench". The Labour Party. Archived from the original on 5 September 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
8. ^ a b c "Our Shadow Cabinet". The Labour Party. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
9. ^ "x.com". twitter.com. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
10. ^ "Ed Miliband returns to Labour top team". BBC News. 6 April 2020. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
11. ^ Pollard, Alexandra (25 June 2020). "We are being ruled by capitalist, fascist dictators". Independent. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020 - via Pressreader.com.
12. ^ "Long-Bailey sacked for sharing 'anti-Semitic article'". BBC News. 25 June 2020. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
13. ^ "Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer sacks Rebecca Long-Bailey over 'antisemitic conspiracy theory' article". Sky News. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
14. ^ Heather Stewart (26 June 2020). "Starmer faces backlash from leftwing MPs over Long-Bailey sacking". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
15. ^ Walker, Peter (25 June 2020). "Keir Starmer sacks Rebecca Long-Bailey from shadow cabinet". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
16. ^ Pollard, Alexandra (25 June 2020). "Maxine Peake: 'People who couldn't vote Labour because of Corbyn? They voted Tory as far as I'm concerned'". Independent. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
17. ^ "Kate Green appointed as shadow education secretary". BBC News. 27 June 2020. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
18. ^ "Three Labour MPs lose roles after voting against overseas operations bill". The Guardian. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
19. ^ Heffer, Greg (16 October 2020). "Sir Keir Starmer hit by series of Labour resignations over Covert Human Intelligence Sources Bill". Sky News. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
20. ^ a b c d Sam Francis & David Wallace Lockhart (28 April 2023). "Keir Starmer denies targeting Labour left-wingers after Abbott suspended". BBC News. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
21. ^ a b c Jemma Crew & Helen Catt (23 April 2023). "Diane Abbott suspended as Labour MP after racism letter". BBC News. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
22. ^ Mitchell, Emily (8 July 2024). "Thornberry outburst after being snubbed for cabinet role by Keir Starmer". Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
23. ^ "Angela Rayner sacked as Labour Party chair by Sir Keir Starmer, Sky News understands". Sky News. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
24. ^ Bush, Stephen (8 May 2021). "Keir Starmer's sacking of Angela Rayner is self-destructive, stupid and wrong". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
25. ^ Casalicchio, Emilio (8 May 2021). "UK Labour descends into civil war after dismal election results". Politico. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
26. ^ Britton, Paul (9 May 2021). "Andy Burnham 'can't support' the sacking of Angela Rayner as Labour chairman". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
27. ^ Bush, Stephen (10 May 2021). "Keir Starmer's first shadow cabinet reshuffle is a bigger gamble than many realise". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
28. ^ Zeffman, Henry; Maguire, Patrick; Courea, Eleni; Wright, Oliver (11 May 2021). "Keir Starmer's aide Carolyn Harris resigns amid accusations of spreading rumours about Angela Rayner". The Times. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
29. ^ Mosalski, Ruth (11 May 2021). "Carolyn Harris resigns as aide for Labour leader Keir Starmer amid allegations of spreading rumours". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
30. ^ Stewart, Heather (14 May 2021). "Keir Starmer appoints northern MP to build bridges with backbenchers". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
31. ^ "Yvette Cooper returns as Starmer reshuffles his shadow cabinet". The Independent. 29 November 2021. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
32. ^ "Yvette Cooper Makes Labour Frontbench Comeback After Keir Starmer Reshuffles Top Team". Politics Home. 29 November 2021. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
33. ^ Kuenssberg, Laura (29 November 2021). "Labour reshuffle: Starmer aims to combine experience and youth". BBC News. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
34. ^ Peston, Robert (29 November 2021). "Keir Starmer chooses the Labour team he actually rates". ITV News. Archived from the original on 26 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
35. ^ Bush, Stephen (29 November 2021). "Keir Starmer's new-look shadow cabinet is less than the sum of its parts". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
36. ^ "Labour reshuffle: Sir Keir Starmer to shake up shadow cabinet". BBC News. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
37. ^ Elizabeth Piper (4 September 2023). "UK's opposition Labour leader reshuffles top team before election". Reuters. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
38. ^ Pippa Crerar and Peter Walker (4 September 2023). "Angela Rayner named shadow levelling up secretary in Labour reshuffle". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
39. ^ McDonald, Andrew (4 September 2023). "UK Labour reshuffle: The winners and losers in Keir Starmer's shake-up". Politico. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
40. ^ Crerar, Pippa (4 September 2023). "Starmer promotes Blairites as Labour thoughts turn to governing". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
41. ^ a b c Paul Seddon (4 September 2023). "Angela Rayner handed new role as Keir Starmer reshuffles top team". BBC News. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
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43. ^ Fisher, Andrew (4 September 2023). "The Labour reshuffle leaves Starmer surrounded by yes-men". i. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
44. ^ Jarvis, Chris (4 September 2023). "'You do not see a space for a mental health portfolio in a Labour cabinet': Rosena Allin-Khan resigns from Labour frontbench". Left Foot Forward. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
45. ^ Keane, Daniel (4 September 2023). "Shadow mental health minister resigns with swipe at Keir Starmer". Evening Standard. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
46. ^ Barradale, Greg. "Shadow mental health minister's resignation sends 'worrying message' about Keir Starmer's Labour". The Big Issue. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
47. ^ Ione Wells (4 September 2023). "Labour reshuffle: Sir Keir Starmer to shake up shadow cabinet". BBC News. Retrieved 5 September 2023.

* v
* t
* e

Keir Starmer

* Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2024–present)
* Leader of the Opposition (2020–2024)
* Leader of the Labour Party (2020–present)
* MP for Holborn and St Pancras (2015–present)

Premiership|

* Ministry
* International trips
* English Channel migrant crossings
* Border Security Command
* Cost-of-living crisis
* Industrial disputes
* postal workers
strikes
* Great British Energy
* Railway Nationalisation
* 2024 State Opening of Parliament
* Freebies controversy
* October 2024 budget
* Winter fuel payment abolition backlash
* November 2024 farmers' protests
* Birmingham bin strike
* March 2025 spring statement
* Plan for Change
* War in Ukraine
* 2025 London Summit on Ukraine
* Coalition of the willing
* War in Gaza
* US–UK airstrikes on Yemen
* Structural changes to local government

Leadership of
the Opposition|

* Shadow Cabinet
* Opposition frontbench
* May 2021 reshuffle
* November 2021 reshuffle
* 2023 reshuffle
* Antisemitism in the Labour Party
* Dossier
* Beergate
* Vote of confidence in the Boris Johnson ministry
* Election date betting scandal
* 2024 Labour Party manifesto

Electoral history|

* 2020 Labour Party leadership election
* 2021 local elections
* 2022 local elections
* 2023 local elections
* 2024 local elections
* 2024 general election
* 2025 local elections
* Next general election

Related|

* Legal career
* Political positions
* Victoria Starmer (wife)
* Spitting Image
* The Starmer Project
* "Freezing This Christmas"

* ← Rishi Sunak

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Shadow Cabinets of the United Kingdom

Official Opposition|

* Churchill (1945–1951)
* Attlee (1951–1955)
* Gaitskell (1955–1963)
* Brown (1963)
* Wilson I (1963–1964)
* Douglas-Home (1964–1965)
* Heath I (1965–1970)
* Wilson II (1970–1974)
* Heath II (1974–1975)
* Thatcher (1975–1979)
* Callaghan (1979–1980)
* Foot (1980–1983)
* Kinnock (1983–1992)
* Smith (1992–1994)
* Beckett (1994)
* Blair (1994–1997)
* Major (1997)
* Hague (1997–2001)
* Duncan Smith (2001–2003)
* Howard (2003–2005)
* Cameron (2005–2010)
* Harman I (2010)
* Miliband (2010–2015)
* Harman II (2015)
* Corbyn (2015–2020)
* Starmer (2020–2024)
* Sunak (2024)
* Badenoch (2024–present)

Liberal Democrats|

* Ashdown (1997–1999)
* Kennedy (1999–2006)
* Campbell (2006–2007)
* Cable I (2007)
* Clegg (2007–2010)
* Farron (2015–2017)
* Cable II (2017–2019)
* Swinson (2019)
* Davey (2020–present)

Scottish National Party|

* Robertson (2015–2017)
* Blackford (2017–2022)
* Flynn (2022–present)

1964 to Present

* v
* t
* e

Shadow Cabinet of Keir Starmer

Leadership|

* Starmer (Leader)
* Rayner (Deputy Leader)

Shadow Cabinet members|

* Allin-Khan
* Ashworth
* Campbell
* Cooper
* Debbonaire
* Gill
* Haigh
* Healey
* Kennedy
* Kyle
* Lammy
* Mahmood
* McMahon
* Miliband
* Murray
* Nandy
* Phillipson
* Powell
* Reed
* Reeves
* Reynolds
* Smith
* Stevens
* Streeting
* Thomas-Symonds
* Thornberry

* v
* t
* e

Labour Party

History

| Main|

* History of the Labour Party

|

Topics|

* Electoral history
* General election manifestos
* History of the socialist movement in the United Kingdom
* European Parliamentary Labour Party
* Scottish Labour Party (1888)
* Independent Labour Party
* Labour Representation Committee
* Gladstone–MacDonald pact
* National Labour Organisation
* Labour Independent Group
* Campaign for Democratic Socialism
* Lib–Lab pact
* Formation of SDP
* Gang of Four
* Limehouse Declaration
* Militant tendency
* The longest suicide note in history
* Labour Listens
* One more heave
* New Labour
* Tony's Cronies
* Blue Labour
* One Nation Labour
* Chakrabarti Inquiry

Leadership

| Leaders|

* Hardie
* Henderson
* Barnes
* MacDonald
* Henderson
* Adamson
* Clynes
* MacDonald
* Henderson
* Lansbury
* Attlee
* Morrison^
* Gaitskell
* Brown^
* Wilson
* Callaghan
* Foot
* Kinnock
* Smith
* Beckett^
* Blair
* Brown
* Harman^
* Miliband
* Harman^
* Corbyn
* Starmer

|

Deputy Leaders|

* Clynes
* Graham
* Attlee
* Greenwood
* Morrison
* Griffiths
* Bevan
* Brown
* Jenkins
* Short
* Foot
* Healey
* Hattersley
* Beckett
* Prescott
* Harman
* Watson
* Rayner

General Secretaries|

* MacDonald
* Henderson
* Middleton
* Phillips
* Williams
* Barker^
* Nicholas
* Hayward
* Mortimer
* Whitty
* Sawyer
* McDonagh
* Triesman
* Carter
* Watt
* Collins
* McNicol
* Formby
* Evans

Treasurers|

* Henderson
* MacDonald
* Henderson
* Lathan
* Greenwood
* Gaitskell
* Bevan
* Nicholas
* Davies
* Callaghan
* Atkinson
* Varley
* Booth
* McCluskie
* Burlison
* Prosser
* Elsby
* Dromey
* Holland

Leaders in the Lords|

* Haldane
* Cripps
* Ponsonby
* Snell
* Addison
* Jowitt
* Alexander
* Pakenham
* Shackleton
* Shepherd
* Peart
* Hughes
* Richard
* Jay
* Williams
* Amos
* Ashton
* Royall
* Smith of Basildon

Scottish Labour Leaders|

* Dewar
* McLeish
* Jamieson^
* McConnell
* Jamieson^
* Alexander
* Jamieson^
* Gray
* Lamont
* Sarwar^
* Murphy
* Gray^
* Dugdale
* Rowley^
* Baillie^
* Leonard
* Baillie^
* Sarwar

PLP Chairs|

* Hardie
* Henderson
* Barnes
* MacDonald
* Henderson
* Hodge*
* Wardle*
* Adamson
* Clynes
* MacDonald
* Henderson
* Lansbury
* Attlee
* Lees-Smith*
* Pethick-Lawrence*
* Greenwood*
* Gaitskell
* Wilson
* Houghton
* Mikardo
* Hughes
* Willey
* Dormand
* Orme
* Hoyle
* Soley
* Corston
* Clwyd
* Lloyd
* Watts
* Cryer
* Morden

EPLP Leaders|

* Stewart
* Prescott
* Castle
* Lomas
* Martin
* Seal
* Ford
* Green
* David
* Donnelly
* Murphy
* Titley
* Willmott
* Corbett

Party Chairman|

* Clarke
* Reid
* McCartney
* Blears
* Harman
* Watson
* Lavery
* Rayner
* Dodds
* Reeves

* = wartime, in opposition
^ Interim/Acting

Internal elections and selections

| Leadership elections|

* 1922 Ramsay MacDonald
* 1931 Arthur Henderson
* 1932 George Lansbury
* 1935 Clement Attlee
* 1955 Hugh Gaitskell
* 1960
* 1961
* 1963 Harold Wilson
* 1976 James Callaghan
* 1980 Michael Foot
* 1983 Neil Kinnock
* 1988
* 1992 John Smith
* 1994 Tony Blair
* 2007 Gordon Brown
* 2010 Ed Miliband
* 2015 Jeremy Corbyn
* 2016
* 2020 Keir Starmer

* * *

|

Deputy Leadership elections|

* 1952 Herbert Morrison
* 1953
* 1956 Jim Griffiths
* 1959 Aneurin Bevan
* 1960 George Brown
* 1961
* 1962
* 1970 Roy Jenkins
* 1971
* 1972 Edward Short
* 1976 Michael Foot
* 1980 Denis Healey
* 1981
* 1983 Roy Hattersley
* 1988
* 1992 Margaret Beckett
* 1994 John Prescott
* 2007 Harriet Harman
* 2015 Tom Watson
* 2020 Angela Rayner

Shadow Cabinet elections and reshuffles|

* Sep 1931 (Henderson)
* Nov 1931
* 1932 (Lansbury)
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935 (Attlee)
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956 (Gaitskell)
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963 (Wilson)
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1979 (Callaghan)
* 1980 (Foot)
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983 (Kinnock)
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992 (Smith)
* 1993
* 1994 (Blair)
* 1995
* 1996
* 2010 (Miliband)
* June 2016 (Corbyn)
* May 2021 (Starmer)
* November 2021
* 2023

Party structure

| Constitution|

* Clause IV

|

Executive|

* National Executive Committee
* General Secretary
* Treasurer

Parliamentary|

* Parliamentary Labour Party
* Chief Whip of the Labour Party

Conference|

* Labour Party Conference

Subnational|

* Scottish Labour
* Welsh Labour
* Labour Party in Northern Ireland

Directly elected city mayoral authorities|

* London Labour

CLPs|

* Constituency Labour Party
* Labour International

Miscellaneous|

* National Policy Forum
* Affiliated trade unions
* Trade Union and Labour Party Liaison Organisation
* Labour Co-operative
* Co-operative Party
* Labour – Federation of Labour Groups

Associated organisations

| List|

* Organisations associated with the Labour Party

|

Sectional groups|

* Young Labour
* Labour International
* LGBT+ Labour
* Labour for Trans Rights
* Labour Students
* BAME Labour
* Disability Labour

Factional groups|

* Blue Labour
* Campaign for Labour Party Democracy
* Christians on the Left
* Compass
* Fabian Society
* Young Fabians
* Future Britain
* Centre-Left Grassroots Alliance
* Jewish Labour Movement
* Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform
* Labour CND
* Labour Friends of Israel
* Labour Friends of Palestine & the Middle East
* Labour Growth Group
* Labour Party Irish Society
* Labour Representation Committee (2004)
* Labour Women's Network
* Momentum
* Open Labour
* National Union of Labour and Socialist Clubs
* Progressive Britain
* Red Wall Caucus
* Revolutionary Communist Party Formerly Socialist Appeal
* Socialist Health Association
* Socialist Educational Association
* Socialist Environment and Resources Association
* Socialist Campaign Group
* Socialist Youth Network
* Socialist societies

Media publications|

* LabourList
* Tribune

Party alliances

| Current|

* Party of European Socialists
* Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
* Progressive Alliance
* Socialist International

|

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