Angela Rayner named shadow levelling up secretary in Labour reshuffle

Angela Rayner will become deputy prime minister if Labour wins the next election and will take on the levelling up brief, as Keir Starmer’s long-awaited shadow cabinet reshuffle proved more widespread than some had predicted.

Lisa Nandy, the former shadow levelling up secretary, is taking on the international development brief, a big demotion, as Starmer gets his top team in place before the next general election.

The international development department is now part of the Foreign Office, but Nandy will still attend shadow cabinet.

A source close to Nandy said: “We’re proud of the work Lisa has done, spearheading some of our most exciting policy in housing and devolution. Lisa is a team player and looks forward to getting stuck into the new role.”

Nandy has considerable pre-parliament experience of aid-related areas, having worked on refugee policy with the Children’s Society, and advising an asylum organisation.

In another move, Shabana Mahmood, who was Labour’s national campaigns coordinator, takes over the shadow justice secretary role held by Steve Reed since 2021. Mahmood was a barrister before entering parliament.

Liz Kendall, formerly a shadow health minister, has replaced Jonathan Ashworth as the shadow work and pensions secretary.

Rayner joked last October that “I’ll definitely be deputy prime minister, otherwise Keir’s got trouble”, describing herself as “John Prescott in a skirt” to Starmer’s Tony Blair.

A Labour source said: “Keir is delighted that Angela has accepted this important role; in addition she will continue to be the strategic lead on Labour’s New Deal for working people.”

As MPs returned to parliament after the summer recess, senior shadow cabinet members including Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, and Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, are expected to stay in their roles.

Other frontbenchers responsible for Starmer’s “five missions”, such as Wes Streeting at health, Bridget Phillipson at education and Ed Miliband at net zero, are also expected to remain in post.

Confirming speculation that there would be changes in the junior ranks of the shadow cabinet, the reshuffle began when the shadow environment secretary, Jim McMahon, long tipped for demotion, announced he was stepping down.

In his resignation letter, the Oldham West and Royton MP said he remained a “firm supporter of Keir” despite his decision to resign. One party insider suggested that he had “seen the writing on the wall” concerning his future in Starmer’s top team.

McMahon said: “After a testing year, I want to focus on getting my health back to full strength so that I can make a full and active contribution to the general election campaign heading towards us, and to prioritise my constituents.”

The reshuffle follows months of speculation that Rayner could be moved as Starmer attempts to slim down his team to mirror that of the government before the next election. Senior party insiders wanted to avoid a repeat of the chaotic 2021 reshuffle in which Rayner was initially demoted but then given an expanded brief.

Rayner shadowed the Cabinet Office, a relatively low-profile department but one that is central to the workings of government. Her new role will give her a higher media profile.

The deputy leader, who was directly elected by the party membership along with Starmer, has said they work “constructively” together, despite initial tensions, describing it as an “arranged marriage” that has evolved over time.

The pre-election shake-up comes on the same day as the former top civil servant Sue Gray, who led the official investigation into the Partygate scandal that ultimately brought down Boris Johnson, started her new job as Starmer’s chief of staff.

Last week Rishi Sunak carried out a mini cabinet reshuffle in which he avoided major changes but gave new appointments to his close allies Grant Shapps and Claire Coutinho. The prime minister is expected to carry out a wider government reshuffle in the coming months.