Labour Reshuffle: Lammy promoted to Shadow Foreign Secretary, Jonathan Ashworth demoted, Miliband moved.

Fires, rehires and big moves: who went where in the Labour reshuffle?

This morning, Sir Keir Starmer launched a Labour reshuffle. Ten hours later, we got the results.

Labour insiders say Starmer had been emboldened by a few good weeks in the polls, following the Tory corruption fallout. It is said the opposition are hoping to repaint themselves as a government “party in waiting”.

Releasing the full list, Starmer said: “With this reshuffle, we are a smaller, more focused Shadow Cabinet that mirrors the shape of the Government we are shadowing.”

It is understood Deputy Labour Leader, Angela Rayner, learnt about the reshuffle just before she took to the stage to give a speech on Tory sleaze.

Asked about the potential jig after her speech finished, the Labour deputy leader told reporters: “I don’t know the details of any reshuffle, I’ve been concentrating on the job that I’m doing at hand and I think that’s really important.”

Moments later, the sackings began.

First casualty was Shadow Minister for young people and democracy, Cat Smith.

It’s been an honour to serve on the Labour front bench since 2015 but I’m looking forward to spending even more time at home here in Lancashire and standing up for my constituents. pic.twitter.com/8pybEql5WB

— Cat Smith MP (@CatSmithMP) November 29, 2021

In Smith’s resignation letter, she said she had been looking forward to meeting Sir Keir Starmer later in the week, where she planned to ask the Labour Leader to re-admit Jeremy Corbyn into the party.

Here’s what we know so far:

Shadow Home Secretary

MOVED: Nick Thomas Symonds, to Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade

REPLACED BY: Yvette Cooper

In 2015, Yvette Cooper came third in the Labour Leadership competition that saw Jeremy Corbyn elected to head up the party. Cooper, who had served as Shadow Home Secretary under Ed Miliband, resigned her post in September 2015. She has been the Chair of the Home Affairs select committee, a cross-party group of MPs, since 2016.

Shadow Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

MOVED: Lisa Nandy, to Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, Communities & Local Government

REPLACED BY: David Lammy

Former Shadow Justice Secretary has been a staunch supporter of Leader Sir Keir Starmer since he took office. The Tottenham MP had served as a Minister in both Blair and Brown’s governments but had turned down a position in Ed Miliband’s shadow cabinet, choosing to use his voice as a backbencher to focus on issues close to home. Lammy was one of 36 MPs to nominate Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership ballot in 2015.

Shadow Health Secretary

MOVED: Jonathan Ashworth, to Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

HIRED: Wes Streeting

Labour circles have rumoured for quite some time that Wes Streeting was hoping to challenge the leadership. A move onto the shadow front bench might be able to qualm fears of more infighting for the meantime. Pretty brutal time to demote Jonathan Ashworth, who is currently at home with Covid.

Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, Communities & Local Government

Former Shadow Foreign Secretary, Lisa Nandy has been appointed as the first Labour minister in charge of levelling up.

Nandy stood as a contender in the 2020 Labour leadership competition, coming third behind Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey. Starmer subsequently appointed her to Shadow Foreign Secretary.

It’s a big role: Nandy will take on Michael Gove at the dispatch box.

Shadow Justice Secretary

MOVED: David Lammy, to Shadow Foreign Secretary

REPLACED BY: Steve Reed

Former Shadow Secretary of State for communities and local government, Steve Reed, served as the leader of Lambeth Council until 2012, when he became the Labour MP for Croydon North. He’s one of the less well-known ministers, and this is a pretty huge promotion. He’s a staunch Sir Keir ally, having backed him following the humiliating Hartlepoole by-election defeat earlier this year.

Shadow Secretary for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

MOVED: Jo Stevens, to Shadow Secretary of State for Wales

REPLACED BY: Lucy Powell

Former Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Lucy Powell, has lacked impact in her relatively short time in post. It’s an interesting time to take over as Shadow DCMS. With Nadine Dorries in post as Culture Secretary, and a white paper examing online harms coming up before Christmas this could be her moment to make a stand at the dispatch box.

Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade

MOVED: Emily Thornberry, to Shadow Attorney General

REPLACED BY: Former Shadow Home Secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds

Possibly the most forgettable face in politics, Nick Thomas-Symonds, has been moved from his position as Shadow Home Secretary to take over from Emily Thornberry. It might be a tough brief to take: Labour have pledged to “make Brexit work”, and anyone in charge of International Trade will know it’s a pretty difficult time to action positivity. Best of luck, Nick.

New role for Ed Miliband: Shadow Secretary of State of Climate Change and Net Zero

Oh! We were so worried, but he’s safe.

Miliband has moved from Shadow Secretary of State for Business & Energy, and into a new role.

A spokesperson for Ed said the new role in shadow cabinet, leading on climate change and net zero, across government is a big role leading transition to green. Ed will head up a big new department, dedicated to climate and will be responsible for transforming energy system, leading allocation of Climate Investment Pledge, and net zero industrial strategy

Miliband, who stormed the pre-COP 26 PMQ and even leased an electric car to prove he was committed to the bit will be given more room to focus on tackling climate change.

Jonathan Reynolds will take Ed’s former brief, becoming the Shadow Business Secretary.

Full List of Labour’s Shadow Cabinet is as follows:

Deputy Leader, Shadow First Secretary of State, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Shadow Secretary of State for the Future of Work: Angela Rayner

Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer: Rachel Reeves

Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Industrial Strategy: Jonathan Reynolds

Shadow Secretary of State of Climate Change and Net Zero: Ed Miliband

Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, Communities & Local Government: Lisa Nandy

Shadow Secretary of State for Defence: John Healey

Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Lucy Powell

Shadow Secretary of State for Education: Bridget Phillipson

Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Jim McMahon

Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Affairs: David Lammy

Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care: Wes Streeting

Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department: Yvette Cooper

Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade: Nick Thomas-Symonds

Shadow Minister of State at the Cabinet Office: Jenny Chapman

Shadow Secretary of State for Justice: Steve Reed

Shadow Secretary of State for Transport: Louise Haigh

Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, Party Chair and Chair of Labour Policy Review: Anneliese Dodds

Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Jonathan Ashworth

Shadow Attorney General: Emily Thornberry

Shadow Cabinet Minister for Mental Health: Rosena Allin-Khan

Shadow Cabinet Minister for International Development: Preet Gill

Shadow Chief Secretary to HM Treasury: Pat McFadden

Shadow Secretary of State for Wales: Jo Stevens

Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland: Ian Murray

Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland: Peter Kyle

National Campaign Coordinator: Shabana Mahmood

Shadow Leader of the House of Commons: Thangam Debbonaire

Shadow Chief Whip: Alan Campbell

Shadow Leader of the House of Lords: Angela Smith

Opposition Chief Whip in the House: Roy Kennedy