Keir Starmer reshuffles government in wake of Angela Rayner resignation
David Lammy has taken on the role of Deputy Prime Minister
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has reshuffled his government cabinet following the resignation of Angela Rayner.
The former Deputy Prime Minister had left her position on Friday (September 5th) after she was found to be in breach of the ministerial code after she failed to pay the proper amount of stamp duty on a seaside home.
Following this, several movements have been made on the original cabinet, including the departure of Lucy Powell and Ian Murray from their respective government roles.
A series of new appointments have been made as part of the government reshuffle, including the promotion of David Lammy from Foreign Secretary to Deputy Prime Minister. He will also serve as the Justice Secretary.
As well as this, Yvette Cooper has been moved from Home Secretary to Foreign Secretary, with Shabana Mahmood stepping in to fill her gap.
Other big promotions include Pat McFadden - a senior minister within the Cabinet Office - being given the responsibility of a "super ministry" comprising the Department for Work and Pensions and the skills remit of the Department for Education.
The moves came following Angela Rayner's resignation from the government after it was revealed she paid the improper amount of stamp duty on her £800,000 property in Hove.
She ultimately referred herself to the independent ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus, who ruled that she had broken the ministerial code.
In the report, Sir Laurie admitted that Rayner had believed she was acting in "good faith", but "the responsibility of any taxpayer for reporting their tax returns and settling their liabilities rests ultimately with themselves".
After submitting her letter of resignation, the Prime Minister responded, saying that she would "remain a major figure" within the party.