In the most significant moves, the British PM has promoted Yvette Cooper to foreign secretary and shifted David Lammy to become justice secretary, as well as deputy prime minister. Shabana Mahmood moves to become home secretary, the most senior interior minister.
Mahmood, who is highly-rated by some on the right of the Labour Party, will now take on one of the hardest government briefs: curbing undocumented migration.
Maurice Glasman, a leading figure on the Labour right, hailed Mahmood’s appointment as “fantastic” and said she is “now clearly the leader of our part of the party.” Cooper’s a “tough” character who would “fly the flag” for Britain, he added.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Britain’s top finance minister, is expected to remain in post, meaning all three of Britain’s so-called “great offices of state” will be held by a woman for the first time.
Allies rewarded
Former Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden, seen as a key enforcer for Keir Starmer, is taking over a new growth-focused department formed of the Department of Work and Pensions plus the skills part of the Department for Education.
Liz Kendall, who took flak as Britain’s welfare secretary attempting to reduce its disability social security bill, will head up the science and tech department. Starmer loyalist Peter Kyle moves from tech to become business secretary, while fellow ally Steve Reed is moving from Defra to head up the housing department.