Just hours after being sworn in as prime minister, the names Keir Starmer has chosen to join the new British government are now known. The big news at the moment is the appointment of Rachel Reeves as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Angela Rayner, who was shadow deputy prime minister in Keir Starmer’s government during Labour’s opposition, now holds the post alongside development and housing minister, an area Starmer sees as crucial.
The foreign ministry will be headed by pro-European David Lammy, an international affairs specialist and close confidant of former President Barack Obama.
Ed Miliband is responsible for energy and carbon neutrality, areas he already oversaw in Gordon Brown’s Labour government. Shabana Mahmood has been confirmed as justice secretary and Bridget Phillipson as education secretary.
Jonathan Reynolds will take over as Minister for Economy and Trade and Peter Kyle will take over as Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Liz Kendall will be responsible for work and pensions and Louise Hay will be responsible for transport. Wes Streetin will have a significant health and social security portfolio.
Labour won Thursday’s general election, returning to power after 14 years of Conservative government.
With just two seats left to go, Labour won 412 seats, a large margin over the 326 needed for a majority in parliament, according to preliminary results released by BBC television.
The Conservatives follow with 121 MPs and the Liberal Democrats with 71 MPs.
Compared to the previous election, Labour has so far elected 211 more MPs, the Conservatives have lost 250 and the Liberal Democrats have gained 63, according to the BBC.
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