May 2021 British shadow cabinet reshuffle

In the aftermath of relatively poor results in the 2021 local elections, Keir Starmer carried out a May 2021 shadow cabinet reshuffle.

Starmer dismissed Angela Rayner as Chair of the Labour Party and National Campaign Coordinator following the elections.[1][2] The move was criticised by John McDonnell, former Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.[3][4]

The major outcome of the reshuffle was the demotion of the Shadow Chancellor, Anneliese Dodds.[5] Rachel Reeves was appointed as the new Shadow Chancellor and Angela Rayner succeeded Reeves as Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Nick Brown was dismissed as Chief Whip and replaced by his deputy, Alan Campbell. Valerie Vaz departed as Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and was replaced by Thangam Debbonaire, who in turn was succeeded as Shadow Secretary of State for Housing by Lucy Powell.

On 11 May 2021, Starmer's Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) Carolyn Harris resigned, which The Times reported was after allegedly spreading false rumours about the private life of Angela Rayner prior to her dismissal.[6][7] Sharon Hodgson was appointed as Starmer's new PPS.[8]

  1. ^ "Angela Rayner sacked as Labour Party chair by Sir Keir Starmer, Sky News understands". Sky News. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  2. ^ Bush, Stephen (8 May 2021). "Keir Starmer's sacking of Angela Rayner is self-destructive, stupid and wrong". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  3. ^ Casalicchio, Emilio (8 May 2021). "UK Labour descends into civil war after dismal election results". Politico. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  4. ^ Britton, Paul (9 May 2021). "Andy Burnham 'can't support' the sacking of Angela Rayner as Labour chairman". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  5. ^ Bush, Stephen (10 May 2021). "Keir Starmer's first shadow cabinet reshuffle is a bigger gamble than many realise". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  6. ^ Zeffman, Henry; Maguire, Patrick; Courea, Eleni; Wright, Oliver (11 May 2021). "Keir Starmer's aide Carolyn Harris resigns amid accusations of spreading rumours about Angela Rayner". The Times. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  7. ^ Mosalski, Ruth (11 May 2021). "Carolyn Harris resigns as aide for Labour leader Keir Starmer amid allegations of spreading rumours". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  8. ^ Stewart, Heather (14 May 2021). "Keir Starmer appoints northern MP to build bridges with backbenchers". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.

© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search