Westminster has been thrown into turmoil once again.
After a bruising summer filled with migration protests and political unrest, Keir Starmer has ripped apart his Cabinet team.
The dramatic reshuffle comes in the wake of Angela Rayner’s resignation — a blow that left Labour shaken and searching for stability.
The Prime Minister, now facing questions about his leadership, has admitted through his actions that some of his policies simply weren’t working.
In particular, Yvette Cooper’s move out of the Home Office signals a quiet acceptance that the government’s approach to border security has failed.
Major Moves Across the Top Table
In one of the most striking changes, David Lammy is leaving the Foreign Office and shifting to Justice.
Though this could easily be seen as a demotion, he has been handed the title of Deputy Prime Minister to soften the blow.
Yvette Cooper, who struggled at the Home Office, is now Foreign Secretary, while Shabana Mahmood steps up to take on the immigration-heavy Home Office brief after impressing at Justice.
Elsewhere, Liz Kendall has been transferred from Work and Pensions to Science, a move that comes after she faced fierce backlash over cuts to winter fuel payments.
Meanwhile, Pat McFadden is heading a new “super-ministry” covering work, pensions, and skills, cutting into Bridget Phillipson’s Education role.
New Faces and Surprising Switches
The reshuffle didn’t stop there. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has been swapped out, giving way to Peter Kyle, and Reynolds will now serve as Chief Whip.
Steve Reed leaves the Environment brief to become Housing Secretary, succeeding Rayner, while Emma Reynolds replaces him at Environment.
Douglas Alexander makes a comeback as Scotland Secretary, one of just two completely new Cabinet entrants alongside Emma Reynolds.
Lisa Nandy and Rachel Reeves, despite criticism over a sluggish economy and looming debt crisis, are among the few who kept their posts.
Angela Rayner’s Tearful Goodbye
Rayner’s departure marks one of the most dramatic downfalls in recent political history.
Once seen as one of Labour’s strongest voices, she was forced to resign after ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus concluded she had underpaid £40,000 in stamp duty on her £800,000 flat in Hove.
In her resignation letter, Rayner admitted she should have sought proper tax advice and confessed the media scrutiny had become unbearable for her family.
She said protecting her children was now her priority, acknowledging the toll the scandal had taken on her personal life.
Starmer responded with a handwritten letter praising her as a “true friend” and commending her as an example of social mobility.
Still, he agreed it was the right decision for her to step aside.
How the Scandal Unfolded
The downfall began with photographs of Rayner on a beach holiday, which spiraled into scrutiny of her multiple homes.
It was revealed she owned a constituency house in Manchester, a government-provided flat in London, and the Hove apartment, leading to questions about her tax status and council tax arrangements.
Soon, the stamp duty issue emerged. Rayner claimed the Hove property was her main residence, saving her tens of thousands of pounds.
But documents later showed she had told Brighton and Hove Council something different, designating it as a second home.
Lawyers and conveyancers became tangled in the affair, with some accusing her of making them scapegoats.
Ultimately, she admitted the underpayment and agreed to pay the outstanding tax — along with a likely penalty of up to 30 percent.
Reactions Inside and Outside Parliament
Rayner’s colleagues tried to defend her, with Ed Miliband calling her “one of the great political figures of our time.”
Others, including Kemi Badenoch, insisted her position had been “untenable for days” and blasted Starmer as weak for not acting sooner.
Nigel Farage wasted no time in using the chaos to rally support for Reform, accusing Labour of entitlement and dishonesty.
Meanwhile, departing ministers like Lucy Powell and Ian Murray acknowledged their disappointment but stopped short of direct criticism of Starmer.
Phase Two or Just Deckchair Politics?
The scale of the reshuffle has shocked MPs, especially after earlier hints that only minor changes were coming.
Critics argue the Prime Minister is merely “shuffling deckchairs on a sinking ship,” as Badenoch put it, rather than offering a real reset.
Supporters, however, claim Starmer is trying to strengthen his team and show he can adapt under pressure.
Still, with the economy stalling, immigration dominating headlines, and Labour already facing internal divides, the challenges ahead are daunting.
A Divisive Battle Looms
Rayner’s exit leaves not just a hole in the Cabinet but also sets up a fierce fight for the position of deputy Labour leader, which is an elected role within the party.
The contest is expected to be heated, potentially pulling Labour further into factional battles at a time when unity is desperately needed.
For Starmer, the reshuffle may buy some breathing space.
But as the summer of crises rolls into an autumn of political uncertainty, it’s clear that this is far from the reset Labour had hoped for.