Keir Starmer's shakeup is expanding
Keir Starmer’s reshuffle of the shadow cabinet is more wide-reaching than many expected, with major Labour figures being given new positions. Big hitters moved around so far have included Angela Rayner and Lisa Nandy.
Two more frontbenchers have now been given new roles. Peter Kyle has been moved from the Northern Ireland brief to become shadow science and technology secretary. Meanwhile, Thangam Debbonaire will say goodbye to being shadow leader of the house of commons in order to replace Lucy Powell in the shadow culture secretary brief. Darren Jones – known for his powerful select committee performances – is set to replace Pat McFadden as shadow chief secretary to the treasury.
Following Rishi Sunak abolishing the department for international trade, Nick Thomas-Symonds has lost that brief and will now serve as shadow minister without portfolio in the cabinet office. That position had been vacant since September 2022.
Hilary Benn has now also been appointed to replace Peter Kyle as shadow Northern Ireland secretary. This marks Benn’s first return to the shadow cabinet after he stood down as Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow foreign secretary in 2016.
Lucy Powell remains in the shadow cabinet as shadow leader of the House of Commons.Y
You can find our full breakdown of the shadow cabinet reshuffle here.
Chris Jarvis is head of strategy and development at Left Foot Forward
Image credit: GMB/YouTube
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