Keir Starmer has made significant changes to his top team following Angela Rayner’s sudden resignation due to issues with her tax payments.
Rayner stepped down from her roles as Deputy Prime Minister, Housing Secretary, and Deputy Labour Leader after an ethics investigation found she had underpaid stamp duty on her property in Hove by £40,000.
While the investigation acknowledged Rayner’s integrity and dedication to public service, it concluded that she had breached the ministerial code, leading to her resignation.
In her resignation letter to the Prime Minister, Rayner took full responsibility for the error, emphasizing that her intention was always to pay the correct amount. She cited the strain the situation had put on her family as a deciding factor in her decision to step down.
Starmer praised Rayner in a heartfelt letter, expressing his admiration for her political achievements and assuring her of her continued importance within the party.
The fallout from Rayner’s resignation prompted a swift reshuffle within the government, with David Lammy taking over as Deputy Prime Minister and Shabana Mahmood becoming the new Home Secretary.
Yvette Cooper was appointed as the new Foreign Secretary, marking the first time in history that the top government positions after the Prime Minister are all held by women.
Several other key ministerial positions were reshuffled, with new appointments and changes to various departments to address the shake-up caused by Rayner’s departure.
Despite the changes, some ministers retained their positions, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, among others.
The Labour Party is expected to undergo further reshuffling of junior ministerial roles in the coming days following Rayner’s exit, which has deeply affected party members.
Colleagues and fellow MPs praised Rayner for her contributions to the party and her advocacy for social justice, with many expressing sadness at her departure and hoping for her return to politics in the future.
Rayner’s resignation sets the stage for a competitive race to select the next deputy Labour leader, with candidates needing substantial support from MPs, constituency parties, and trade unions to secure the position.