Starmer ministry

UK government since 2024

The Starmer ministry began on 5 July 2024 when Keir Starmer was invited by King Charles III to form a government, following the resignation of Rishi Sunak after the general election on 4 July 2024.

Background

Starmer formed his government throughout 5–7 July, after his party won 411 seats in the 2024 general election, with the new Cabinet first meeting on 6 July and the new Parliament being called to meet on 9 July.^[1][2][3] It has been noted for its female political representation, appointing women to a record half of the Cabinet (including Rachel Reeves as the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer in British history) and three of the five top positions in the British government, including Angela Rayner as Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.^{[4][5][failed verification]}

Starmer also appointed three politically independent experts: scientist Patrick Vallance as Minister of State for Science, rehabilitation campaigner James Timpson as Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation, and international law expert Richard Hermer as Attorney General for England and Wales.^[6] The government includes a few ministers from the New Labour governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, including Hilary Benn, Yvette Cooper, David Lammy and Ed Miliband in the Cabinet, and Jacqui Smith and Douglas Alexander as junior ministers.^[7][8][9]

Cabinet

Changes

Changes from Starmer's final Shadow Cabinet to Cabinet.

• Thangam Debbonaire (Shadow Culture Secretary) lost her seat and Lisa Nandy was appointed in her place.
• Nandy's role (Shadow International Development Cabinet Minister) was a full member of Shadow Cabinet despite the department having merged into the Foreign Office under the previous government and not reformed by Starmer. Anneliese Dodds attends Cabinet as Minister of State for Development.
• Dodds served in Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary and party chair, and she is also the junior Minister of State for Women and Equalities, while Bridget Phillipson succeeds her as the senior Minister for Women and Equalities.^[12][13]
• Ellie Reeves (Deputy National Campaign Coordinator) was a member of Shadow Cabinet in her previous role that has no government counterpart, and was appointed to succeed Dodds' role as party chair and Minister without Portfolio outside Cabinet.
• Jonathan Ashworth (Shadow Paymaster General) lost his seat. Nick Thomas-Symonds (Shadow Minister without Portfolio) was appointed Minister for the Cabinet Office as well as Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations, but will not attend Cabinet.^[13]
• Emily Thornberry (Shadow Attorney General) was not appointed to Cabinet nor any junior ministerial role and returns to the backbenches. Richard Hermer was appointed Attorney General from outside parliament and will be given a life peerage to the House of Lords to serve.
• Hermer (Attorney General), Alan Campbell (Commons Chief Whip) and Darren Jones (Chief Secretary to the Treasury) merely attend Cabinet, roles that were full members of the Shadow Cabinet.
• The Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lords Chief Whip) was a member of Shadow Cabinet, but he not was appointed to Cabinet while remaining in the same role.

List of ministers

Prime Minister and Cabinet Office

Departments of state

Law officers

Parliament

Non-ministerial appointments

Parliamentary Private Secretaries

Prime Minister's Office

Party officers

Church Commissioner

References

1. "Keir Starmer: Labour leader to become UK prime minister". BBC News. 2024-07-05. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
2. "House of Commons Library, 2024. "What Happens in the Commons after the general election?"". House of Commons Library. 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
3. "Results". Sky News. 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
4. "Who is in Keir Starmer's new cabinet". BBC News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
5. Adam, Karla; Taylor, Adam; Timsit, Annabelle (5 July 2024). "Who is in Keir Starmer's new U.K. government?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
6. Savage, Michael (6 July 2024). "Starmer installs non-political ministers in 'government of all the talents'". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
7. Francis, Sam (7 July 2024). "Starmer appoints two figures from Blair and Brown era as ministers". BBC News. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
8. Laver, Adam (6 July 2024). "Yorkshire MPs take centre stage in Keir's cabinet". BBC News. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
9. "Who is in Keir Starmer's new Labour Cabinet?". The Telegraph. 7 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
10. "Ministerial Appointments: July 2024". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
11. "His Majesty's Government: The Cabinet". Parliament.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
12. "Anneliese Dodds attends Starmer's first cabinet meeting in Downing Street". Oxford Mail. July 6, 2024.
13. Elgot, Jessica. "Emily Thornberry 'sorry and surprised' not to be given cabinet role by Starmer". The Guardian.