Keir Starmer’s Labour reshuffle leaves Angela Rayner out in the cold

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Labour’s deputy leader hoped to set the political agenda with a plan to overhaul rules on standards in public life. But she was only told about Sir Keir’s plans minutes before she went on stage – hours after journalists were tipped off.

Early yesterday, Ms Rayner told broadcasters she was not aware of any reshuffle, adding: “I reckon Keir would tell me first.”

But she admitted after her speech that she had been kept in the dark.

Ms Rayner said: “I don’t know the details of the reshuffle or the timing of it.” Her spokesman added: “She was not consulted on the reshuffle.”

Tensions between the pair erupted earlier this year when he sacked her as party chairwoman and campaign coordinator after Labour received a drubbing in local elections.

The resulting backlash forced the leader to give her a raft of new responsibilities.

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Yesterday’s shadow cabinet refresh was viewed as a move by Sir Keir to bolster his floundering leadership.

Yvette Cooper was appointed to the high-profile role of shadow home secretary. She replaced Nick Thomas-Symonds, who was blamed by senior figures for failing to make an impact against Home

Secretary Priti Patel over the Channel migrant crisis.

Lisa Nandy, a contender in the last leadership election, was replaced by David Lammy as shadow foreign secretary. She will now take on Michael Gove as shadow levelling-up secretary.

Ex-leader Ed Miliband was stripped of responsibility for business. Instead he will oversee climate change and “net zero” policy.

Rising stars Wes Streeting and Bridget Phillipson take on health and education.

Jonathan Ashworth moves to work and pensions.

Sir Keir said: “The Labour Party I lead is focused on the priorities of the country.”

A senior Tory source said: “If he can’t run his own front bench properly how can he pretend he could run the country.”

Ex-leader Ed Miliband was stripped of responsibility for business. Instead he will oversee climate change and “net zero” policy.

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