Rachel Reeves becomes first female chancellor and Rayner deputy PM as Starmer appoints top team

Sir Keir Starmer has made Rachel Reeves Britain’s first feminine chancellor as he appoints his new cupboard to get on with the job rapidly.

One of many best appointments for the brand new prime minister was Ms Reeves as his new chancellor.

She performed a serious position within the marketing campaign and, as a former Financial institution of England economist, has helped carry financial credibility again to Labour from the wreckage of the Jeremy Corbyn years.

She is the primary feminine to carry the second most essential position in authorities in 708 years of the workplace being in existence.

Earlier, Angela Rayner had been handed her personal division as secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, taking on from Michael Gove.

There had been questions on whether or not she would possibly get a roving position, however she had shadowed Mr Gove with some success and had hankered after a division.

Ms Rayner, who can even be deputy prime minister – solely the second lady to carry the position after Therese Coffey in Liz Truss’s 49-day authorities – will mirror the position of John Prescott who was Tony Blair’s deputy and likewise in control of the division for native authorities and improvement.

Simply 24 hours earlier than individuals went to the polls, Sir Keir was nonetheless being coy about who would get the highest jobs and refused in interviews to ensure anyone a publish.

This was partly as a consequence of Neil Kinnock coming unstuck in 1992 when he launched his new cupboard at an notorious rally in Sheffield solely to lose the election.

However lots of the names of Sir Keir’s first cupboard have been simply predicted.

David Lammy grew to become international secretary, Wes Streeting well being secretary, Bridget Phillipson schooling secretary and Yvette Cooper house secretary.

John Healey is the brand new defence secretary, and Pat McFadden was rewarded for his success as marketing campaign coordinator by getting Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, working the highly effective Cupboard Workplace, typically described because the engine room of presidency.

Mr Streeting, one other stalwart, held on to his seat in east London by just some hundred votes.

One other clear-cut alternative was the rising star Ms Phillipson, who like Mr Streeting gave an in-depth interview to The Unbiased through the election.

Having survived a scare from a pro-Gaza impartial in Birmingham Ladywood, key Starmer ally Shabana Mahmood has been made justice secretary.

In one of many few surprises, Lisa Nandy was promoted to tradition secretary, after the holder of the transient in his shadow cupboard, Thangam Debbonaire, misplaced her Bristol Central seat to the Greens.

Ms Nandy had been demoted within the Labour chief’s final reshuffle in 2023 to shadow minister for worldwide improvement.

Former chief Ed Miliband beomes secretary of state for vitality safety and web zero in an indication Sir Keir will push by means of an agenda tackling local weather change regardless of dropping his £28bn inexperienced deal plan.

Sir Keir has additionally named Liz Kendall work and pensions secretary, Jonathan Reynolds the enterprise and commerce secretary and the president of the Board of Commerce, whereas Peter Kyle turns into the secretary of state for science.

At simply 36, Louise Haigh turns into the youngest cupboard minister of the trendy period as transport secretary, once more retaining the position she held within the shadow cupboard.

Steve Reed was appointed surroundings secretary, Hilary Benn is Northern Eire secretary, Ian Murray is Scotland secretary and Jo Stevens is secretary of state for Wales.