Lisa Nandy Demoted As Keir Starmer Shakes Up His Shadow Cabinet

The former leadership contender has been replaced in her old job by Angela Rayner.
Lisa Nandy has been replaced by Angela Rayner in Keir Starmer's reshuffle.
Lisa Nandy has been replaced by Angela Rayner in Keir Starmer's reshuffle.
Stefan Rousseau - PA Images via Getty Images

Keir Starmer has demoted Lisa Nandy as he carries out a reshuffle of his shadow cabinet.

The Labour leader replaced his former leadership rival as shadow levelling up secretary with Angela Rayner.

Nandy has been appointed shadow cabinet minister for international development, a far less influential frontbench role.

It is a dramatic fall from grace for the Wigan MP, who was shadow foreign secretary in Starmer’s first shadow cabinet.

A source close to Nandy said: “We’re proud of the work Lisa has done, spearheading some of our most exciting policy in housing and devolution.

“Lisa is a team player and looks forward to getting stuck into the new role.”

It is understood that Rayner will retain responsibility for workers’ rights in her new role, while also becoming shadow deputy prime minister.

A Labour source said: “Game, set and match to Angie.”

Starmer’s big-hitters - shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson and shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper - all kept their jobs.

The reshuffle was kicked off by the resignation of shadow environment secretary Jim McMahon.

He has been replaced by Steve Reed, with Shabana Mahmood - a key Starmer ally - replacing him as shadow justice secretary.

A Labour source said: “This promotion is recognition of the integral role Shabana has played in transforming the Labour party as national campaign co-ordinator.”

Mahmood is being replaced in the campaign co-ordinator role by Pat McFadden, who is also becoming the shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

McFadden is replaced as shadow Treasury secretary by Darren Jones, who takes up his first shadow cabinet role.

There was also a demotion for Jon Ashworth, an ally of Nandy, who moves from shadow work and pensions secretary to become shadow paymaster general, although he will retain his place in the shadow cabinet.

He is replaced in the work and pensions portfolio by Liz Kendall.

Meanwhile, Hilary Benn - who has not been on the Labour frontbench since quitting Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet in 2016 - becomes shadow Northern Ireland secretary.

He replaces Peter Kyle, who has become shadow secretary of state for science, innovation and technology.

Thangam Debonnaire becomes shadow culture secretary, swapping roles with Lucy Powell, who takes her role as shadow leader of the Commons.

Ed Miliband retains his job as climate change secretary, while Jonathan Reynolds keeps the business brief, David Lammy stays on as foreign secretary and John Healey remains defence secretary.

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