British Prime Minister Keir Starmer carried out the first cabinet reshuffle of his premiership in 2025. A minor reshuffle of posts in 10 Downing Street began on 1 September 2025. [1] On 5 September, following the resignation of the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner after she was found to have broken the ministerial code, a full reshuffle of the cabinet was launched. [2]
The reshuffle was speculated to take place in the late spring or early summer of 2025. [3] Ministers like Lisa Nandy and Bridget Phillipson were discussed as possible changes. [4] Number 10 denied that Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves would be removed. [5] Louise Haigh told the media that northern female MPs were likely to be demoted. [6] Speculation increased following the 2025 United Kingdom local elections. [7] [8]
A minor reshuffle of posts in 10 Downing Street began on 1 September 2025. [9] [10]
Following the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, after being found to have breached the ministerial code, one of the biggest cabinet reshuffles in years started on 5 September. [16] Starmer planned to enact the full reshuffle later in the parliamentary term, but brought this forward in light of Rayner's resignation. [17]
Below are the changes made in the reshuffle. [1] [2] [18]
| Colour key |
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| Name | Position before reshuffle | Position after reshuffle | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Angela Rayner | Deputy Prime Minister Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government | Resigned from government |
 | David Lammy | Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs | Deputy Prime Minister Lord Chancellor Secretary of State for Justice |
 | Yvette Cooper | Secretary of State for the Home Department | Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs |
 | Shabana Mahmood | Lord Chancellor Secretary of State for Justice | Secretary of State for the Home Department |
 | Steve Reed | Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government |
 | Emma Reynolds | Economic Secretary to the Treasury City Minister | Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |
 | Darren Jones | Chief Secretary to the Treasury (until 1 September) | Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister (from 1 September) Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (from 5 September) Minister for Intergovernmental Relations (from 6 September) |
 | Pat McFadden | Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Minister for Intergovernmental Relations (until 6 September) | Secretary of State for Work and Pensions |
 | Liz Kendall | Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology |
 | Peter Kyle | Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology | Secretary of State for Business and Trade President of the Board of Trade |
 | Jonathan Reynolds | Secretary of State for Business and Trade President of the Board of Trade | Chief Whip of the House of Commons Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury |
 | Alan Campbell | Chief Whip of the House of Commons Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | Leader of the House of Commons Lord President of the Council |
 | Lucy Powell | Leader of the House of Commons Lord President of the Council | Dismissed from government |
 | Douglas Alexander | Minister of State at the Cabinet Office Minister of State for Trade Policy and Economic Security | Secretary of State for Scotland |
 | Ian Murray | Secretary of State for Scotland | Minister of State at Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology |
 | Ellie Reeves | Minister without Portfolio Chair of the Labour Party | Solicitor General for England and Wales |
 | Anna Turley | Junior Lord of the Treasury (Government Whip) | Minister without Portfolio Chair of the Labour Party |
 | James Murray | Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury | Chief Secretary to the Treasury |
| Colour key |
|---|
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| Name | Position before reshuffle | Position after reshuffle | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Jason Stockwood | None [a] | Minister of State for Investment |
 | The Baroness Gustafsson | Minister of State for Investment | Resigned government [19] |
 | Jim McMahon | Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution | Left government |
 | Daniel Zeichner | Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs | Left government |
 | Justin Madders | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets | Left government |
 | Catherine West | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific | Left government |
 | Maria Eagle | Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry | Left government |
 | Abena Oppong-Asare | Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister (non-ministerial role) |
 | The Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice | Left government |
 | The Lord Khan of Burnley | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Faith, Communities and Resettlement | Left government |
 | Catherine McKinnell | Minister of State for School Standards | Left government |
 | Dan Tomlinson | Backbench MP | Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury |
 | Michael Shanks | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy | Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero |
 | Alison McGovern | Minister of State for Employment | Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government |
 | Lucy Rigby | Solicitor General for England and Wales | Economic Secretary to the Treasury City Minister |
 | Dan Jarvis | Minister of State for Security | Minister of State for Security Minister of State in the Cabinet Office |
 | The Lord Vallance of Balham | Minister of State for Science | Minister of State for Science Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero |
 | Angela Eagle | Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum | Minister of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |
 | Diana Johnson | Minister of State for Policing and Crime Prevention | Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions |
 | Sarah Jones | Minister of State for Industry | Minister of State for Policing and Crime |
 | Chris Bryant | Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms Minister of State for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism | Minister of State in the Department for Business and Trade |
 | Luke Pollard | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces | Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry |
 | Georgia Gould | Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office | Minister of State in the Department for Education |
| | Ellie Reeves | Minister without Portfolio Chair of the Labour Party (attending Cabinet) | Solicitor General for England and Wales |
| | Ian Murray | Secretary of State for Scotland (Cabinet Minister) | Minister of State for Creative Industries, Media and Arts Minister of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology |
 | Mike Tapp | Backbench MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship |
 | Louise Sandher-Jones | Backbench MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People |
 | The Baroness Levitt | Backbench peer | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice |
 | Chris Ward | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister (non-ministerial role) | Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office |
 | Seema Malhotra | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities |
 | Miatta Fahnbulleh | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Consumers | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government |
 | Samantha Dixon | Vice-Chamberlain of HM Household (Senior Government Whip) | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government |
 | Zubir Ahmed | Backbench MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Health and Social Care |
 | The Baroness Smith of Malvern | Minister of State for Skills (Department for Education) Minister of State for Women and Equalities | Minister of State for Skills (Department for Education and Department for Work and Pensions) Minister of State for Women and Equalities |
 | Alex Norris | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Building Safety, Fire and Local Growth | Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum |
 | Chris Elmore | Comptroller of HM Household (Senior Government Whip) | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office |
 | Satvir Kaur | Backbench MP | Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office (on maternity leave) |
 | Josh Simons | Backbench MP | Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office (covering maternity leave) |
 | Josh MacAlister | Backbench MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Education |
 | Olivia Bailey | Backbench MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Early Education Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities |
 | Blair McDougall | Backbench MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Business and Trade |
 | Kate Dearden | Assistant Government Whip | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Business and Trade |
 | Kanishka Narayan | Backbench MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology |
 | Anna McMorrin | Assistant Government Whip | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales |
 | Matthew Patrick | Backbench MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland |
 | Katie White | Backbench MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero |
 | Janet Daby | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families | Left government |
 | The Baroness Jones of Whitchurch | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Future Digital Economy and Online Safety | Left government |
 | Gareth Thomas | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Services, Small Business and Exports | Left government |
 | Feryal Clark | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for AI and Digital Government | Left government |
 | Fleur Anderson | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | Left government |
 | Nia Griffith | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities | Left government |
 | Gerald Jones | Assistant Government Whip | Left government |
 | Martin McCluskey | Assistant Government Whip | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero |
 | Keir Mather | Assistant Government Whip | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Transport |
 | Jake Richards | Backbench MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice |
 | Lilian Greenwood | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Future of Roads | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Transport Junior Lord of the Treasury (Government Whip) |
 | Nesil Caliskan | Backbench MP | Comptroller of HM Household (Senior Government Whip) |
 | Nic Dakin | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice Junior Lord of the Treasury (Government Whip) | Vice-Chamberlain of HM Household (Senior Government Whip) |
 | Christian Wakeford | Assistant Government Whip | Junior Lord of the Treasury (Government Whip) |
 | Stephen Morgan | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Early Education | Junior Lord of the Treasury (Government Whip) |
 | Claire Hughes | Backbench MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales |
 | Mark Ferguson | Backbench MP | Assistant Government Whip |
 | Gregor Poynton | Backbench MP | Assistant Government Whip |
 | Imogen Walker | Backbench MP | Assistant Government Whip |
 | Jade Botterill | Backbench MP | Assistant Government Whip |
 | Deirdre Costigan | Backbench MP | Assistant Government Whip |
 | The Lord Collins of Highbury | Deputy Leader of the House of Lords Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Africa Lord-in-Waiting (Government Whip) | Deputy Leader of the House of Lords Lord-in-Waiting (Government Whip) |
 | Mike Kane | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Aviation, Maritime and Security | Left government |
 | Kerry McCarthy | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Climate | Left government |
 | Jeff Smith | Junior Lord of the Treasury (Government Whip) | Left government |
| | Liz Lloyd | None [a] | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Business and Trade Baroness-in-Waiting (Government Whip) |
 | Chris McDonald | Backbench MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Business and Trade |
 | Gen Kitchen | Assistant Government Whip | Junior Lord of the Treasury (Government Whip) |
The following newly appointed Parliamentary Private Secretaries (PPSs) were announced on 11 September 2025:
| Name | Position before reshuffle | Position after reshuffle | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Catherine Fookes | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister | |
| | Abena Oppong-Asare | Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister |
 | Jon Pearce | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister | |
 | Claire Hazelgrove | Parliamentary Private Secretary to HM Treasury | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Cabinet Office |
 | Naushabah Khan | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Cabinet Office | |
 | Alice Macdonald | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Cabinet Office | |
 | Luke Charters | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Business and Trade | |
 | Jeevun Sandher | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Business and Trade | |
 | Marie Tidball | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Business and Trade | |
 | Jack Abbott | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport |
 | Lola McEvoy | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport | |
 | Amanda Martin | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Education | |
 | Anna Gelderd | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | |
 | Connor Rand | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | |
 | Andrew Pakes | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | |
 | Tom Rutland | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | |
 | Preet Kaur Gill | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Business and Trade | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology |
 | Natalie Fleet | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Work and Pensions | |
 | Steve Race | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department of Health and Social Care | |
 | Rosie Wrighting | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department of Health and Social Care | |
 | Catherine Atkinson | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | |
 | Helena Dollimore | Parliamentary Private Secretary to HM Treasury | |
 | Kirith Entwistle | Parliamentary Private Secretary to HM Treasury | |
 | Sarah Coombes | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Office |
 | Alan Gemmell | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Office |
 | Sally Jameson | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Ministry of Justice | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Office |
 | Shaun Davies | Private Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence | |
 | Tom Hayes | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | |
 | Laura Kyrke-Smith | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government |
 | James Frith | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Ministry of Justice | |
 | Joe Powell | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Ministry of Justice | |
 | Melanie Ward | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Scotland Office | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Ministry of Justice |
 | Kevin Bonavia | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Law Officers | |
 | Frank McNally | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Scotland Office | |
| | Alison Taylor | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Scotland Office | |
 | Leigh Ingham | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council | |
 | Paul Waugh | Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal | |
The initial "mini-reshuffle" on 1 September was described as a "reset", [20] with Keir Starmer referring to it as the "second phase" of his government and not a reshuffle. [21]
The resignation of Angela Rayner was the catalyst for the reshuffle. [22] [23] She resigned over a tax scandal involving the purchase of a property. [24] HuffPost wrote that Starmer sought to reassert his authority following the loss of Rayner. [25] She had been expected to be a major candidate for Labour leader. [26] Her concurrent resignation as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party also triggered a deputy leadership election. [27] The last time a deputy leadership election was held alone was 2007. [28]
The New Statesman noted the right-wing shift of the announced changes. [29] One factor criticised was the treatment of female ministers. [30]
The reshuffle installed two new holders of Great Offices of State: a new home secretary and a new foreign secretary. This resulted in the three Great Offices below the Prime Minister being simultaneously occupied by women for the first time. [31] Ministers who stayed in office included Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband. [32]
Shabana Mahmood moved from Secretary of State for Justice to Home Secretary. [33] She was noted for being the first female Muslim Home Secretary. [34] Lucy Powell was dismissed as Leader of the House of Commons. [35] This was significant as she was responsible for delivering the legislative programme through parliament. [36] The Home Office saw major changes with Yvette Cooper, Angela Eagle and Diana Johnson leaving the department. [37]
The removal of Ian Murray as Secretary of State for Scotland was a surprise. [38] He spoke publicly of his huge disappointment. [39] Lord George Foulkes called it a “disgraceful decision”. [40] Murray was replaced by Douglas Alexander who previously served in the same job from 2006 to 2007 in the Blair government. [41] The following day Murray returned to government but as a junior minister at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. [42] [43]
A few senior female MPs left the government including Nia Griffith, Catherine McKinnell and Maria Eagle. A number of MPs first elected in the 2024 general election were appointed to the frontbench for the first time. [44]
The reshuffle was controversial within Labour ranks. Chi Onwurah said: "It is clear that there are higher standards and expectations and more attention on working class Labour ministers, especially women.. but we have set ourselves high standards and we do need to keep to them”. [45] Louise Haigh previously said northern female MPs were targeted for scrutiny. [46] Internal civil war has been reported inside the Labour Party. [47] As Rayner came from the soft left, the ideological split has been important. [48]
The Daily Telegraph said that the government hoped the reshuffle would help counter Reform UK. [49] Nigel Farage was the focus of media attention as the reshuffle happened on the same day as the Reform UK conference in Birmingham. [50] Richard Tice said the government was "playing games". [51] Many journalists who planned to travel for the weekend ended up staying in London after Angela Rayner's unexpected resignation. [50] The reshuffle greatly overshadowed the Reform UK conference. [52] Labour had been trailing in the polls and so this was given significance. [53] Another reported issue for the government is on the left wing of politics with the new leader of the Green Party of England and Wales Zack Polanski, who was elected on 2 September, as well as the new Your Party of Jeremy Corbyn. [54]
Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch said: "Angela Rayner is finally gone.. but it's only because of Keir Starmer's weakness that she wasn't sacked three days ago". [55] Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: "If Labour believes that having a reshuffle will solve the deep-rooted problems of this government, they are learning the wrong lessons from the calamity Conservatives before them". [56]
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