London, UK: Keir Starmer, the newly elected leader of the United Kingdom, has announced key members of his ministerial team following his centre-left Labour Party’s landslide victory, ending 14 years of Conservative rule.
Rachel Reeves became the first female finance minister in UK history when Starmer appointed her on Friday. The economist at the Bank of England, a former child chess champion, has promised to expand the country’s economy while exercising strict fiscal restraint.
David Lammy was a trailblazing politician appointed foreign secretary by Starmer. Lammy was raised in Tottenham, a neighbourhood in north London, where he was born to Guyanese immigrants and has served as a representative in parliament since 2000.
When Lammy was first elected at the age of 27, he became the youngest member of parliament (MP). He quickly obtained experience as a minister, holding positions in the administrations of Gordon Brown and Tony Blair.
After being appointed foreign secretary on Friday, Lammy reaffirmed his support for international efforts to bring about a “immediate ceasefire” in Israel’s war on Gaza and for the release of the remaining hostages.
To achieve those two goals, the 51-year-old declared he will “get to work with tireless diplomacy.”
As the party’s deputy leader in 2020, Angela Rayner was selected by party members without consulting the leader in question. She will serve as Starmer’s deputy prime minister and continue to hold the positions of housing, communities, and levelling up.
Shabana Mahmood was appointed justice secretary while John Healey was chosen defence secretary. Bridget Phillipson was appointed education secretary, and Wes Streeting was named health secretary.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband was the previous leader of the Labour Party and the leader of the opposition from 2010 to 2015. The new leader of the House of Commons will be Lucy Powell.
Complete list of Ministerial Appointments
- Keir Starmer – Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury
- Angela Rayner – Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. She will also be Deputy Prime Minister
- Rachel Reeves – Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Pat McFadden – Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
- David Lammy – Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
- Yvette Cooper – Secretary of State for the Home Department
- John Healey – Secretary of State for Defence
- Shabana Mahmood – Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
- Wes Streeting – Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
- Bridget Phillipson – Secretary of State for Education
- Ed Miliband – Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Liz Kendall – Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
- Jonathan Reynolds – Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade
- Peter Kyle – Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
- Louise Haigh – Secretary of State for Transport
- Steve Reed – Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Lisa Nandy – Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
- Hilary Benn – Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
- Ian Murray – Secretary of State for Scotland
- Jo Stevens – Secretary of State for Wales
- Lucy Powell – Lord President of the Council, and Leader of the House of Common
- Baroness Smith of Basildon – Lord Privy Seal, and Leader of the House of Lords
- Sir Alan Campbell – Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
- Darren Jones – Chief Secretary to the Treasury
- Richard Hermer – Attorney General
- Sir Patrick Vallance – Minister of State (Minister for Science) in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
- James Timpson – Minister of State (Minister for Prisons, Parole and Probation) in the Ministry of Justice