New Prime Minister Keir Starmer named Rachel Reeves as Britain’s first female finance minister and Angela Rayner as his deputy yesterday as he began putting together the team that will help him try to deliver on a promise rebuild the country.
Reeves, 45, a former Bank of England economist, spent her time serving in opposition mending relations with the business community that were strained under left-wing former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, and pitching to voters that the party could be trusted with their money.
Starmer appointed David Lammy as Britain’s new foreign minister and John Healey as defence minister, while Yvette Cooper becomes interior minister, known as home secretary, overseeing domestic security and policing.
Lammy and Healey take charge at a time of two global conflicts and have promised to maintain continued support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and press for a ceasefire in the fighting in Gaza.
Starmer has promised voters he will deliver change and provide political stability after 14 years of Conservative government that has seen five prime ministers and an even higher turnover of other key ministers, including 10 education secretaries.
The appointments of his most senior team were widely expected, with ministers being named to the policy briefs they held while serving in opposition.
Rayner will also serve as secretary for levelling up, housing and communities.
Wes Streeting was named health minister, taking charge of a portfolio that will oversee Britain’s struggling National Health Service (NHS), one of the biggest issues on voters’ minds ahead of the election.
Ed Miliband, previously a Labour Party leader, was appointed energy security and net zero minister, while Jonathan Reynolds becomes the new business minister.
Shabana Mahmood was named as justice minister, while Bridget Phillipson will be education minister.
Meanwhile, the pound and British stocks and government bonds rose marginally yesterday, but Starmer comes to power at a time when the country is facing a series of daunting challenges.
Britain’s tax burden is set to hit its highest since just after the Second World War, net debt is almost equivalent to annual economic output, living standards have fallen, and public services are creaking, especially the much cherished National Health Service which has been dogged by strikes.
Some of Labour’s more ambitious plans, such as its flagship green spending pledges, have already been scaled back, while Starmer has promised not to raise taxes for “working people”.
Likewise, he has promised to scrap the Conservative’s policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda, but with migration a key electoral issue, he will be under pressure himself to find a way to stop tens of thousands of people arriving across the Channel from France on small boats.
Britain’s election result showed growth in support for the right-wing Reform party, led by Nigel Farage, echoing recent similar results in Europe where the far-right have been surging.
But, unlike France where Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party made historic gains in an election last Sunday, overall the British public has plumped for a centre-left party to bring about change.
Starmer has promised to improve relations with the European Union after Brexit, but Labour has said rejoining the EU was not on the table.
He may also have to work with Trump if he wins November’s presidential election. Trump has already sent congratulations to Farage, via his social media platform Truth Social.
While he has promised to bring change domestically, Starmer has vowed to continue London’s unequivocal support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. On many foreign issues, his policies are similar to Sunak’s.
The election victory represents an incredible turnaround for Starmer and Labour, which critics and supporters said was facing an existential crisis just three years ago when it appeared to have lost its way after its 2019 drubbing.
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