Yvette cooper made a dramatic comeback to the political frontline after Sir Keir starmer had used a broad-ranging reshuffle in order to support centrists.
After a day of chaos, Labour’s leader named Miss Cooper Shadow Home Secretary in order to fight Priti Patel.
Lisa Nandy, who was promoted as well, will be working alongside Michael Gove at his housing and levelling-up department.
Yesterday morning Sir Keir Starmer began his reshuffle. This sparked a dispute with Angela Rayner’s allies, who accuse him of trying to shadow a speech she was giving.
David Lammy assumed her former job as Shadow Foreign Secretary. Wes Streeting, a rising star in health communications, was promoted to the position of prominent health spokesman.
The changes – much wider than expected – will be seen as a move by Sir Keir to consolidate the power of centrists at the top of the Labour Party.
In the Shadow Cabinet, Corbynites were the only remaining members of the Shadow Cabinet after the reshuffle.
Yvette Cooper’s dramatic return to political life last night was witnessed by Lisa Nandy, who was also promoted
Wes Streeting became unpopular among Corbynites because he had campaigned against anti-Semitism. He was given the role of prominent health spokesman
Cat Smith left Sir Keir with a broadside, criticizing him for not allowing Jeremy Corbyn to return into the parliamentary party.
In another change, former leader Ed Miliband’s job was reduced in size. Formerly responsible to business and climate, he now will only be involved in the briefing on climate change.
Sir Keir’s reshuffle began yesterday morning. This prompted a dispute with Angela Rayner’s associates, who accuse him of trying to dominate a speech she was giving.
Cat Smith, the Shadow Cabinet’s last Corbynite (pictured right), was forced to leave during the reshuffle.
The Labour leader said last night: ‘With this reshuffle, we are a smaller, more focused Shadow Cabinet that mirrors the shape of the Government we are shadowing.
‘We must hold the Conservative Government to account on behalf of the public and demonstrate we are the right choice to form the next government.
‘I’m delighted that Lisa Nandy will take on the vital role of shadowing Michael Gove and leading on the levelling up agenda.
‘After 11 years of Conservative mismanagement of our economy, delivering prosperity to all regions and nations in the UK will be a defining mission of the next Labour government.’
Ed Miliband, a former Labour leader, used to shadow the briefs on climate change and the business. Climate change is his responsibility now.
He added he was also delighted Mr Miliband would take the lead on holding the Government to account for its ‘failure to take action on climate change… the most important issue facing this country over the next decade’.
Sir Keir said: ‘I look forward to working with the new team to show we are once again a serious party of government.’
Nick Thomas-Symonds is replaced by Miss Cooper, who takes over as international trade spokesperson. Emily Thornberry is the shadow attorney general.
Yesterday, Kate Green was fired and Lord Falconer now serves as shadow attorney general
Bridget Phillipson received the position of shadow education, which is a promotion to her former role as shadow Treasury minister
Yesterday morning, allies of Mrs Rayner questioned why Sir Keir decided to carry out the changes just as she was making a speech accusing the Conservatives of ‘corruption’.
Mrs Rayner said after her speech she had not been aware of ‘the timing of’ the reshuffle.
She added: ‘Six months ago I said again we need some consistency in how we’re approaching things as an opposition.’
New fears were raised about the future of Sir Keir, his deputy.
The pair were locked in a stand-off during Sir Keir’s last reshuffle in May, when Mrs Rayner felt she was being scapegoated for the party’s disastrous Hartlepool by-election result.