New rift at top of Labour as Angela Rayner blindsided by Sir Keir Starmer’s reshuffle

Sir Keir Starmer launched a major reshuffle without the backing of Angela Rayner, his deputy, as he promoted prominent New Labour figures to senior positions on his frontbench.

In a move that threatens to open a new rift at the top of the party, the Labour leader began changing his top team just moments before Ms Rayner was due to deliver a speech on Westminster sleaze.

The reshuffle, Sir Keir’s second in six months, appeared designed to reassert his authority after it was badly dented in May, when Ms Rayner refused to accept a demotion.

Among more than a dozen changes to his top team, Sir Keir demoted Nick Thomas-Symonds from shadow home secretary to international trade, while Lisa Nandy was moved from shadow foreign secretary to face Michael Gove as shadow levelling up secretary.

Mr Thomas-Symonds was replaced by Yvette Cooper, the influential chairman of the Commons home affairs select committee, with David Lammy promoted from shadow justice secretary to occupy Ms Nandy’s former role.

Both served on the front bench under Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, with Ms Cooper expected to ratchet up pressure on Priti Patel and Boris Johnson over the Government’s handling of the migrant crisis.

Ed Miliband, the former Labour leader, will have his role trimmed back to focus only on environmental issues following tensions over the party’s stance on public ownership of key industries, with Jonathan Reynolds taking over his brief as shadow business secretary.

A number of Starmer loyalists from the moderate wing of the party were also promoted, including Wes Streeting to shadow health secretary, Bridget Phillipson to shadow education secretary, and Peter Kyle to shadow Northern Ireland secretary.

Lord Falconer, one of Sir Keir’s closest allies, has stepped aside as attorney general to make way for Emily Thornberry. However, he is expected to remain a key adviser to Sir Keir.

Meanwhile Cat Smith, an ally of Ms Rayner and one of the last remaining figures from the Left in the shadow cabinet, resigned - citing the “damage” Labour had suffered from Sir Keir’s refusal to return the whip to Jeremy Corbyn.

‘Purge of anyone who doesn’t fit the moderate description’

Several also claimed that the replacement frontbenchers who were not Corbyn loyalists but had served under him with prominent party moderates showed that Sir Keir was seeking to shift further to the Right.

“Even people who weren’t even Corbynistas but served under him are being moved, so it’s a clean sweep,” said one former frontbencher.

A second added: “This is clearly yet another shift and purge of anyone who doesn’t fit the moderate description. It is totally unnecessary. We are a broad church and this is not going to help increase our appeal among the electorate, which is badly needed.”

With Labour now leading the Tories in a string of recent polls, allies of Sir Keir believe that revamping his frontbench before Christmas will help consolidate his position and continue his shift away from the policy agenda and legacy of his predecessor.

It came hours after Ms Rayner revealed publicly she had not been consulted on the plans, stating during a morning broadcast round that “I reckon Keir would tell me first” before proceeding.

However, as the details of the reshuffle began to emerge, her allies said she had been blindsided by the timing and detail of the announcement, which also overshadowed her delivering a key policy announcement on overhauling the regulation of ministerial standards.

“I just find it completely bizarre that the deputy leader isn’t aware of the changes being made to the shadow cabinet and hasn’t been consulted,” one senior ally said.

A second supporter of Ms Rayner claimed the controversy had “blown up” an event designed to shine a spotlight on Boris Johnson’s mishandling of the recent sleaze scandal. “I would be careful if I were him,” a third added.

Ms Rayner also appeared to signal her frustration publicly when fielding questions after her speech, telling reporters: "I don't know the details of the reshuffle or the timing of it.

“I've been here concentrating on my role now, but six months ago I said again we need some consistency in how we're approaching things as an opposition."

Supporters of Sir Keir defend him against claims

However, senior figures loyal to Sir Keir hit back against the latest briefings, insisting that he had informed Ms Rayner at a meeting on Monday morning that the reshuffle would be taking place.

An aide to one shadow cabinet minister also claimed Ms Rayner had definitely "known about the plans'' and had been “pushing for it for months”.

Others singled out members of Ms Rayner’s team, accusing them of personally stoking tensions, while two also hit out at suggestions Ms Rayner had the right to be involved in decisions relating to changes to Sir Keir’s frontbench.

Elsewhere, Jo Stevens announced she had been shuffled from the shadow culture secretary brief to shadow Wales secretary, while Jonathan Ashworth was moved from health to become the shadow work and pensions secretary.