Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Image source, EPA

After yesterday's reshuffle ushered in major churn in central government, today's job-swapping has been a more steady and less consequential affair.

Soon after former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner offered her resignation yesterday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer set about reshaping his top team.

David Lammy was invited to become Starmer's new deputy, prompting Yvette Cooper to take over as foreign secretary while Shabana Mahmood takes the reigns of home secretary.

Today, it was the turn of junior ministers to learn their fates.

We've got full rundowns of all the changes - the first batch saw a Grimsby businessman sent to the Lords and, as our political editor writes, a Home Office clear out.

A second set, meanwhile, saw a new role as solicitor general Ellie Reeves, who lost her job as Labour Party chair, as well ministerial jobs in trade and defence for MPs Chris Bryant and Luke Pollard.

We're closing our live coverage there, but we'll keep our news story updated with any further developments.

Secretaries of state are the most senior government ministers and have overall control of government departments or ministries. For example, the defence secretary is in charge of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), while the education secretary has control over Department for Education.

Under them, there are generally two ranks of junior ministers: ministers of state and parliamentary secretaries. The responsibilities of both are delegated by the head of the department or ministry they work for.

Ministers of state are the more senior of the two. They often handle the more complex or tricky issues, like the role of security minister in the Home Office - who deals with issues like counter-terrorism, cyber threats and serious organised crime.

Parliamentary secretaries, on the other hand, often carry out tasks such as getting bills through Parliament or working on a specific policy area prioritised by the government.

There is typically one parliamentary secretary in a small department and three or four in a large one. One example of this would be the role of armed forces minister in the MoD, who currently has responsibility for areas like military recruitment and readiness.

Labour has confirmed that Anna Turley is the new party chair, replacing the newly appointed solicitor general Ellie Reeves

The MP for Redcar has been a government whip since the last election.

We've just seen a list of the second batch of junior ministers who have been moved in the reshuffle. Here are the latest changes:

• Anna Turley has been appointed as a minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office, who will also attend Cabinet
• Alex Norris has taken up the role of minister in the Home Office
• Sir Chris Bryant has been selected as the minister of state in the Department for Business and Trade
• Luke Pollard has been appointed minister in the Ministry of Defence
• Georgia Gould will take on the role of minister in the Department for Education
• Ellie Reeves will be the solicitor general
• Lucy Rigby has been appointed to the role of economic secretary to the Treasury
• Maria Eagle and Catherine McKinnell have left the government

See this post for the first batch of junior ministerial appointments.

Image source, Reuters

Yvette Cooper taking on the role of foreign secretary was one of the biggest moves yesterday - and she's wasted little time getting to grips with her new brief.

Writing on social media, the former home secretary says that she's spoken to Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha, reiterating to him the UK's "unwavering" support in the face of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Sybiha himself thanks Cooper for a "warm and meaningful conversation... just a few hours after she was appointed the new UK foreign secretary".

He says Cooper's first call to Ukraine is a "sign of respect and priority in sustaining the UK's unwavering support".

Jim McMahon, who is among the junior ministers leaving government in the reshuffle, says "it’s time for a fresh start".

In a post on X, the former local government minister says he had a "wonderful experience" in the role at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

"Working for a boss like Angela Rayner has been genuinely empowering and fulfilling, I’ll never forget the trust and confidence she placed in me," he adds.

"The Labour government must recognise that all politics is family and community. For over a decade working people and their communities have been hammered and patience for change has run out. It’s a hard inheritance but the reality."

Departing junior minister Justin Madders says it's "been a real privilege" to serve as minister for employment rights as he departs the role in today's reshuffle.

Madders is the MP for Ellesemore Port and Bromborough, and will now return to the House of Commons as a Labour backbencher.

Madders had been working on the Employment Rights Bill and he says it's "disappointing" not to have been given the opportunity to see it through into becoming law.

Beyond this, he says there's still "so much more to deliver", and thanks former housing secretary Angela Rayner and ex-business secretary Jonathan Reynolds for "being a pleasure to work with".

Image source, Getty Images

As we've just reported, Grimsby businessman Jason Stockwood is set to join the government as investment minister, after being tempted into the House of Lords by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Stockwood is not an elected MP, but will be able to offer advice as a result of his new role as a peer.

As well as being a successful executive, the 54 year-old is the former chairman of Grimsby Town FC and remains a co-owner of the League Two football club.

It's not the first time his path has crossed with politics, though.

In the spring, Stockwood ran to become the first elected mayor of the new Greater Lincolnshire authority, but ultimately lost by a wide margin to Reform candidate and former Tory MP Dame Andrea Jenkyns.

During his campaigning, Stockwood described how he grew up on a Grimsby council estate, and pledged to strengthen pride and safety in the area.

A Home Office clear out and Grimsby businessman sent to the Lordspublished at 15:54 BST 6 September

15:54 BST 6 September

Chris Mason
Political editor

Image source, EPA

A couple of things stand out from this first batch of reshuffled ministers in the lower government ranks.

Firstly, another two departures from the Home Office: something of a clear out.

Dame Angela Eagle and Dame Diana Johnson follow Yvette Cooper out of the door.

The other thing is the arrival of Jason Stockwood in government.

A couple of months ago he was proudly showing me around Grimsby Town Football Club, sitting in the dugouts where the megabucks of Manchester United would later roll up, only to be humbled by the League Two side in the Carabao Cup.

Stockwood is a local boy done very well in business that some in the party were very keen to see run as a candidate in a parliamentary seat.

He wasn’t keen, but has been lured into the Lords and becomes a business minister.

For a government frequently criticised for lacking voices with long standing private sector experience, the soon-to-be Lord Stockwood could prove something of an asset.

Image source, PA Media

Downing Street has confirmed the first batch of junior ministers moved in the reshuffle.

Here's what to know:

• Jason Stockwood has been appointed investment minister jointly in the Department for Business and Trade and the Treasury
• Dan Jarvis joins the Cabinet Office as a minister, while remaining security minister in the Home Office
• Baroness Jacqui Smith has taken up the role of skills minister in the Department for Work and Pensions. She will remain as both the skills and women and equalities minister in the Department for Education
• Lord Patrick Vallance becomes a minister in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. He will remain minister in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
• Michael Shanks as a minister jointly in the Department for Business and Trade and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
• Alison McGovern has been appointed to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
• Dame Angela Eagle will join the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Dame Diana Johnson has moved to the Department for Work and Pensions
• Sarah Jones MP has been appointed to the Home Office
• Baronies Poppy Gustafsson, Jim McMahon and Daniel Zeichner have left the government

As we've been reporting, we're expecting more news today on changes to the lower ranks of government from Keir Starmer today.

At the moment, we're still waiting for the prime minister to announce the next part of his reshuffle - and our political editor writes that there are positions to be filled.

Any announcement will be smaller in scale than yesterday's seismic shuffle, which saw David Lammy replace the departing Angela Rayner as deputy prime minister.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was also tapped to become foreign secretary, with her former role now being filled by ex-Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

As soon as we get news of the prime minister's next set of changes, we'll bring you updates here.

Starmer resets after Rayner row, but Labour turmoil is a gift for Reformpublished at 13:34 BST 6 September

13:34 BST 6 September

Laura Kuenssberg
Presenter, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg

Image source, PA Media

Welcome to the weird world of UK politics in 2025.

The TV presenter Jeremy Kyle announces to a huge crowd of Nigel Farage supporters at Reform UK's party conference that David Lammy is the new number two in government and they boo, panto-style.

And there's a YouTube video of the (now former) deputy prime minister dancing in a tracksuit and chunky gold chain waving wads of cash that's been watched more than 1.5m times.

These might both sound like parodies, but only the video of Angela Rayner rapping "How Many Homes Can Rayner Buy" was a joke.

And what was planned as No 10's "get back in charge week" has been blown up by a row you couldn't make up – the housing secretary in trouble for not paying tens of thousands of pounds of tax on her expensive new house.

Her exit pushed the button on a chunky shakeup of Sir Keir Starmer's team.

The start of this political season has been wild.

In the end, Rayner's decision to go was clear cut.

The official report into her behaviour said she'd tried to do the right thing, but not tried hard enough. So the rules had been broken.

• Read more Kuenssberg's analysis

Image source, Reuters

On Thursday, Angela Rayner was one of the most powerful figures in government. Within 24 hours, she had resigned and half of the cabinet had been given new titles.

How did we get here?

The week began with MPs returning to London after a summer break, with Starmer billing it the start of "phase two" of his government.

At the time, there were swirling newspaper reports about the deputy PM having underpaid tax on a flat she had bought in May.

Rayner's team initially insisted she had paid the right amount, but sought legal advice. On Wednesday, she conceded she had not paid enough.

By Friday morning, after a week of growing pressure, the country was speculating Rayner's political future.

A report from the PM's ethics adviser later found that, although Rayner had "acted with integrity", she ultimately breached the ministerial code for not seeking expert tax advice.

Rayner resigned, writing in a letter that she took "full responsibility for this error" and it was "never my intention to do anything other than pay the right amount".

The resignation prompted Starmer to carry out a major cabinet reshuffle sooner than he had planned - David Lammy has replaced Rayner as deputy prime minister, Yvette Cooper has moved to the foreign office and Shabana Mahmood is home secretary.

Starmer is expected to continue his reshuffle today with changes to government ministers. Stick with us and we'll bring you the latest.

Image source, PA Media

A resident has paid for graffiti to be removed from outside Angela Rayner's Hove flat, according to the local council.

A white wall outside the home was graffitied after Rayner admitted underpaying stamp duty when she purchased the property earlier in the year.

Rayner's spokesperson had called the vandalism "totally unjustifiable and beyond the pale" and said it was a matter for the police.

Across the road from her seafront flat, "Tax evader Rayner" and "Rayner tax avoidance" were also written on construction chipboard.

Now, a Brighton & Hove City Council spokesperson says: "Due to security concerns, and in line with our policy of removal of offensive graffiti, we have removed graffiti reported in Hove. This has been paid for by a resident."

Image source, Getty Images

We can bring you some more reaction from opposition MPs as Keir Starmer continues his government reshuffle.

Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick says Keir Starmer has lost "any semblance of authority" as he reshuffles his cabinet after just over a year in government.

Writing in the Telegraph, Jenrick says the prime minister is "trapped" and has been left "tinkering here and there" instead of introducing sweeping reforms.

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice accuses Labour of "playing games" with its reshuffle by timing it to coincide with its party conference in Birmingham.

Speaking to Sky News this morning, Tice says that his teams are unphased, and repeats the assertion that supporters should be ready for a 2027 general election - despite a vote on the government not being expected until 2029.

Yesterday, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey wrote on social media: "Until Keir Starmer is ready to grab the bull by the horns and confront the problems our country really faces, it makes little difference who sits where around the cabinet table."

Damian Grammaticas
reporting from Downing Street

Earlier this morning Jonathan Reynolds, who this time yesterday was the business secretary, strode up Downing Street. He knocked on the door of No 10 and stepped inside.

His arrival, a little after 07:00, was the first outward sign that the juggling of jobs continues - and the work of Starmer's team at Downing Street began early.

Yesterday’s reshuffle saw Reynolds move to the job of chief whip, which means he’ll now have an input into what ministerial changes Starmer is set to announce today.

A little after Reynold's arrival at Downing Street, the prime minister’s press secretary arrived with a cup of coffee in hand - another one of Starmer's team of close advisors who are assembling to finalise the reshuffle today.

It's clear the aim of the shake up to government is for the prime minister to try wrest back the political initiative after the lowest moment so far of his premiership.

Image source, PA Media

We can bring you further comments from political scientist Professor John Curtice who says Angela Rayner's resignation is a "big loss" for the Labour government.

He tells BBC Breakfast Rayner can connect with the public in a way that Starmer is unable to. "Clever lawyer as he is, [Starmer] just doesn't have a good deal of presence," he says. "He doesn't command attention."

The former deputy PM's against-the-odds story and ability to connect with parts of the electorate that may be less accessible gave her a special status in Starmer's team, Curtice adds.

"It's not clear to me there's anybody else in the cabinet who has that sense of presence and style and connection with the party," Curtice adds.

Keir Starmer's shake up of his frontbench team is motivated by two key issues that have dogged the government, political scientist Professor John Curtice says.

Curtice says the first is immigration and it is an issue Starmer is hoping his new home secretary Shabana Mahmood is tough on.

"[Starmer hopes] she might be able to close this issue down to some degree from being the continuing sore that it certainly has been this summer," he tells BBC Breakfast.

The second issue is welfare reform, Curtice adds.

Starmer believes the new Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden can get more people into employment and off benefits, Curtice says.

Image source, Getty Images

There have been a flurry of developments in the past 24 hours and our correspondents have been looking at what this means for the future of the Labour government. Let's take a look:

• The reshuffle is not over yet with more changes to come to the lower ranks of government, our political editor Chris Mason writes
• Once the dust settles on yesterday's cabinet shake up, the real test of its success will come down to definition and delivery, Mason adds
• The new foreign secretary Yvette Cooper faces a tough task, our diplomatic correspondent James Landale writes, and she will soon be put to the test as she inherits wars in Ukraine and the Middle East
• Her home secretary replacement Shabana Mahmood is no stranger to unpopular decisions, our UK correspondent Sima Kotecha writes, as the challenge of tackling the small boats crisis looms over her new role
• Yesterday's government changes were sparked by the resignation of Angela Rayner, who was deputy prime minister. Our chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman says Rayner was left with little choice but to leave after the independent ethics adviser's report

Chris Mason
Political editor

If reshuffles are your thing - and I appreciate that as a spectator sport it’s probably a relatively niche pursuit - there is more to come.

I am told we will hear this morning about changes in the lower ranks of government below cabinet level.

There are already vacancies that need to be filled.

The business minister Lady Gustafsson resigned the other day. The homelessness minister Rushanara Ali resigned last month and wasn’t replaced.

And then there are the posts vacated by two cabinet newbies - Douglas Alexander and Emma Reynolds.

Let’s see who gets those jobs and who else is brought into government and leaves.

I’ll have a particular eye on those from last year’s massive intake of Labour MPs, who might find themselves in possession of a ministerial box for the first time.