London: British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has assigned junior ministerial roles to five MPs who were newly elected, in an unprecedented move. This is highly unusual for MPs with no prior parliamentary experience to immediately receive government positions.
Among the new appointees is Georgia Gould, the leader of Sir Keir’s local Camden council and daughter of Blair-era strategist Lord Philip Gould, who has been named a parliamentary secretary in the Cabinet Office.
Economist Miatta Fahnbulleh takes on the role as a junior minister in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, while former Royal Marine Colonel Alistair Carns has been appointed as minister for veterans. Sarah Sackman, a barrister specialising in planning and local government law, has been made solicitor general, and charity executive Kirsty McNeill, who previously advised Gordon Brown, will serve as a junior minister in the Scotland Office.
Additionally, experienced politicians Douglas Alexander, a former minister in the Blair and Brown governments, ex-deputy mayor of London Heidi Alexander, and former shadow cabinet minister Emma Reynolds, have all returned to Parliament after years away from politics.
Jess Phillips also rejoins the Labour frontbench as a junior minister in the Home Office, after stepping down last November over a Gaza ceasefire vote.
Although some members, notably, Emily Thornberry expressed disappointment for not being appointed attorney general despite her three-year tenure in opposition.
As the new Prime Minister makes these appointments, the dynamic within the party remains one of balancing fresh faces with experienced people.
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