New PM holds first cabinet meeting after landslide victory

Sir Keir Starmer is chairing his first cabinet meeting following Labour’s landslide win that ended 14 years of Tory rule.

It comes after the new prime minister appointed his top team on Friday afternoon – making few changes to the shadow cabinet that existed before the election.

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Rachel Reeves is the new chancellor of the exchequer, while Yvette Cooper is home secretary, Wes Streeting is health secretary, Bridget Phillipson is education secretary, and David Lammy is foreign secretary.

As well as appointing members of his cabinet, Sir Keir made several eye-catching ministerial appointments.

Sir Patrick Vallance – who served as the UK’s chief scientific adviser during the pandemic – becomes a peer to take on the role of science minister.

James Timpson – the chief executive whose family retail and key-cutting business is known for employing ex-offenders – will also join the Lords after being appointed prisons minister.

The one notable exception was Sir Keir picking experienced human rights lawyer Richard Hermer KC for attorney general rather than Emily Thornberry, who held the shadow role prior to the election. He will become a peer to take up the job.

High on the cabinet agenda will likely be the the six first steps set out in the Labour manifesto: delivering economic stability, cutting NHS waiting times, launching a new border security command, creating Great British Energy, cracking down on anti-social behaviour and recruiting 6,500 new teachers.

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