It's been a busy day for the Labour Party, with a host of post changes in Sir Keir Starmer's top team.

Here's a reminder of some of the key moves (the rest are here):

• Angela Rayner, Labour's deputy leader, has been given the levelling up brief and made shadow deputy prime minister
• Lisa Nandy, previously shadow levelling up secretary, has become a minister for international development - a demotion
• Thangam Debbonaire, previously shadow leader of the House of Commons, was made shadow culture secretary, taking over from Lucy Powell in a direct job swap

• Peter Kyle has been appointed shadow secretary of state for science, innovation and technology, while Shabana Mahmood became shadow justice secretary
• Hillary Benn becomes shadow Northern Ireland secretary, while Darren Jones becomes shadow chief secretary to the treasury

• Promotions for those in the centre of the party have led some to say it's a sign of Starmer moving away from the left but Starmer says it's a "well-balanced team"

We're closing our live coverage now - thanks for following along. This page was brought to you by Heather Sharp, Alexandra Fouche, Sam Hancock, Gem O'Reilly, Paul Seddon, Ali Abbas Ahmadi, Oliver Slow and Harrison Jones.

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

It’s the team that Keir Starmer thinks can take Labour into a general election, and ultimately, it’s the team that he wants to put in power if he wins the keys to Downing Street in that general election.

You might be forgiven for thinking here are a bunch of people who I only kind of know about; is it really that important that they have their new jobs? But the answer is that it probably tells us quite a bit about how Keir Starmer wants to govern.

We’ve seen quite a lot of Keir Starmer allies - people that he’s pretty close to - elevated into more senior jobs. Pat McFadden has been given the job of shadow cabinet office minister. That’s a really important job if Labour gets into government because he’d essentially be in charge of the machinery of government.

Some other key allies like Peter Kyle and Liz Kendall have been given higher promotions too.

So what does it all tell us? It tells us Keir Starmer wants his close allies in those top jobs running into the general election. A lot of them are on the centre of the party rather than from the left who ruled the roost under Jeremy Corbyn.

The big question now is whether any of them try to tweak the party's policies.

We've just heard from Sir Keir Starmer, who says he's put in place a "really well-balanced team".

In an interview with broadcasters, he says: "What I've focused on is slimming down the substantive briefs while having an eye on the general election."

He adds: "It's a fantastic result when you get the people you want who have the talent and determination into the cabinet.

Everyone is pleased with the position they have and I'm very pleased."

There's been plenty of talk about this reshuffle being all about Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer getting his ducks in a row - or his top team in place - ahead of the next general election. But when is it likely to take place?

We know it has to be before January 2025 - five years from the day the current Parliament first met on 17 December 2019, plus the time required to run an election campaign.

But exactly when is “anybody’s guess” says BBC’s political correspondent Alex Forsyth, although there is speculation that it could be in spring or autumn next year.

It’s ultimately down to the government of the day to decide, so the actual date could be influenced by how the economy is looking in the next year or so.

Some feathers ruffled but overall smooth sailingpublished at 14:40 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

14:40 BST 4 September 2023

Alex Forsyth
Political correspondent

So the shuffling’s pretty much done - but what does it all mean?

Well, as expected there was no change in some of the top roles in Sir Keir Starmer’s team, but elsewhere the shuffling was fairly extensive - and it was pretty swift, rattling along with promotions for some, sideways moves for others and the odd demotion.

Among the most notable appointments: Angela Rayner gets a new senior title as shadow deputy prime minister - and a new brief covering levelling-up, housing and communities - which cements her position in Starmer’s top team, and also meant there was no re-shuffle run-ins between the Labour leader and his elected deputy as there have been in the past.

However that meant a demotion for Lisa Nandy, whose new role covering international development is undoubtedly important but doesn’t come with a department of its own.

Elsewhere the return of Hilary Benn to the shadow cabinet is notable - he was a minister in the governments of both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown but hasn’t sat in the shadow cabinet since he quit during Jeremy Corbyn’s time as party leader.

New and important jobs for Liz Kendall - a one-time Labour leadership candidate - and Pat McFadden, who used to by Tony Blair’s political secretary - will prompt some to say this is further evidence of Starmer shifting the party away from the Labour left. But Sir Keir’s allies will say it’s a reshuffle that shows he’s serious about winning the election and is building a team to prepare for government.

Either way, it’s further evidence that Starmer’s prepared to shape the party in the way he wants.

So far it seems to have gone fairly smoothly - though Dr Rosena Allin-Khan did leave her job to return to the backbenches with what some might see as a pointed letter to Starmer saying “you do not see a space for a mental health portfolio in a Labour cabinet”.

Reshuffles rarely take place without some ruffled feathers...

Image source, UK Parliament

Away from Labour’s reshuffle, former Conservative whip Chris Pincher has lost his appeal against a proposed eight-week suspension from the House of Commons for groping two men at a London club last year.

The decision means a by-election in Pincher’s Tamworth seat is a step closer - MPs are now widely expected to vote to approve the eight-week punishment, which could trigger a by-election.

You might remember the incident also contributed to Boris Johnson’s departure from Downing Street after it emerged the then-prime minister knew about a previous investigation into Pincher’s behaviour when he appointed him, despite Number 10 previously denying it.

Angela Rayner is the deputy leader of the Labour Party and, as of today, the shadow deputy prime minister and shadow levelling up secretary.

The 43-year-old has been an MP since 2015 and has a reputation for speaking her mind.

Also, as a working-class woman from the north of England who did not go to university, she has a widely-recognised ability to reach parts of the electorate that might be less accessible to recent Labour leaders closely associated with London.

In an interview with the BBC's Nick Robinson last year, Rayner discussed her "very poor" upbringing and said her parents were "even poorer" growing up. She also spoke about her mother being illiterate and having her first child at the age of 16.

Since becoming an MP Rayner's held a number of shadow cabinet roles, including shadow education secretary - from 2016 to 2020 - under then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

The former care worker left school without any qualifications and was told she wouldn't amount to anything.

But if Labour wins the next general election, she is certain to be a key figure in the new government.

Read more: Angela Rayner - Labour big hitter who beat the odds

Rosena Allin-Khan will no longer be part of Labour's top team as the shadow minister for mental health.

In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, she says: "You made clear that you do not see a space for a mental health portfolio in a Labour Cabinet, which is why I told you many weeks ago that I would not be able to continue in this role."

The MP for Tooting and A&E doctor writes in her letter, posted on X, external (formerly known as Twitter), that it she considers it "crucial" for a future Labour government to support reform of the Mental Health Act and the Suicide Prevention Strategy as a priority.

The BBC has contacted Labour for a response.

Image source, PA Media

Labour is not the only party to have announced a reshuffle this morning – the Scottish National Party has also made changes to its frontbench team at Westminster.

Former chief whip Brendan O'Hara has been promoted to foreign affairs spokesperson while Amy Callaghan has replaced Martyn Day as health spokesperson. Stuart McDonald, who is also SNP treasurer, has been replaced as justice and immigration spokesperson by Chris Stephens.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said the new team would “pile pressure” on the UK government.

Deputy leader Mhairi Black, who has confirmed she will not seek re-election, will stay in her role.

And another new role...

Ellie Reeves has been appointed to the shadow cabinet as deputy national campaign coordinator, serving alongside Pat McFadden.

The MP for Lewisham West and Penge was previously a shadow justice minister.

Phew, that's a lot of changes. Don't worry if you're struggling to keep up, here's our list of where things stand so far in Sir Keir Starmer's reshuffle:

• Angela Rayner, Labour's deputy leader, has been given the levelling up brief
• Lisa Nandy, previously shadow levelling up secretary, has been moved to international development, taking over from Preet Kaur Gill
• Liz Kendall, previously a shadow health minister and a former Labour leadership candidate, is made shadow work and pensions secretary. She replaces Jonathan Ashworth
• Ashworth becomes shadow paymaster general in the cabinet office
• Thangam Debbonaire, previously shadow leader of the House of Commons, moves to shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport, taking over from Lucy Powell in a direct job swap

• Steve Reed has been appointed shadow secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, after Jim McMahon stood aside due to ill health
• Hillary Benn returns to the shadow cabinet as shadow Northern Ireland secretary

• Peter Kyle, who previously covered Benn’s new brief, has been appointed shadow secretary of state for science, innovation and technology
• Shabana Mahmood becomes shadow secretary of state for justice, replacing Reed
• Pat McFadden has been appointed as shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Labour's national campaign coordinator, roles previously held by Rayner and Mahmood respectively

• Darren Jones is now shadow chief secretary to the treasury, taking over from McFadden
• Nick Thomas-Symonds becomes shadow minister without portfolio in the cabinet office

Image source, PA Media

The reshuffle continues. Lucy Powell has been made shadow leader of the House of Commons.

That means she and Thangam Debbonaire - the new shadow culture secretary - have directly swapped roles.

Image source, Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Up next is Hilary Benn MP, who has been appointed shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland, external.

Benn is veteran parliamentarian, and has represented Leeds Central since 1999. He served in the cabinet from 2003 to 2010 under Labour prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

More recently, he has served as shadow foreign secretary and chairman of the Brexit select committee.

Alex Forsyth
Political correspondent

The new names are coming pretty thick and fast, and while there’s still no change expected in the most senior roles - shadow chancellor, health or home secretary for example - this is a pretty extensive shuffling of folk elsewhere.

Here are a couple of thoughts on some of the appointments of the last few minutes.

It’s no surprise that Darren Jones has got a new job - he was tipped for it after putting in what many thought was a good performance as a committee chair.

It's also worth nothing that on the face of it Jonathan Ashworth’s move from shadow secretary of state for work and pensions to shadow paymaster general might seem like a demotion, but it’s understood he’s still a full shadow cabinet member and he’ll play a big role in Labour’s general election campaign.

Next up is Nick Thomas-Symonds who becomes shadow minister without portfolio in the cabinet office - its equivalent in office tends to involve generally contributing to the running of government.

Thomas-Symonds, the MP for Torfaen in Wales, was previously shadow minister for international trade.

Image source, Getty Images

Darren Jones MP has been made shadow chief secretary to the treasury, external - a post formerly held by Pat McFadden MP.

Jones has served as the chair of the house of commons business and trade select committee since 2020, and has been a member of parliament for Bristol North West since 2017.

Image source, UK Parliament

Peter Kyle is the next appointment to be announced, becoming shadow minister for science, innovation and technology.

He was previously the shadow Northern Ireland secretary.

Image source, UK Parliament

Up next is Thangam Debbonaire MP, who has been appointed shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport., external

Debbonnaire has been the shadow leader of the House of Commons since May 2021, and served as the shadow secretary of state for housing from 2020 to 2021.

She was elected as Member of Parliament for Bristol West in 2015.

We've also heard Jonathan Ashworth has been appointed to the shadow cabinet as shadow paymaster general in the shadow cabinet office.

Image source, UK Parliament

The announcements are rolling in more quickly now. Next up is Liz Kendall, who's been made the shadow work and pensions secretary.

She was previously a shadow health minister, with a focus on social care.

Interesting move for McFaddenpublished at 12:00 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

12:00 BST 4 September 2023

Alex Forsyth
Political correspondent

It's interesting that Pat McFadden has taken over as Labour’s national campaign co-ordinator.

Once upon a time, he was political secretary to former PM Tony Blair - now he’s front and centre of Keir Starmer’s Labour campaign machine.