David Lammy appointed Deputy Prime Minister

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appointed David Lammy deputy prime minister and Justice Secretary in a sweeping cabinet reshuffle following the resignation of Angela Rayner after an investigation into her tax affairs.

Lammy, who previously served as Foreign Secretary, now steps into one of the most powerful roles in government at a moment of heightened political pressure for Labour.

Yvette Cooper has been moved from home secretary to take up a new role as foreign secretary, with justice secretary Shabana Mahmood replacing her at the Home Office.

Mr Lammy will also become justice secretary as well as deputy PM. Lucy Powell, the leader of the House of Commons, and Scottish secretary Ian Murray have been sacked from their roles this afternoon. In total, a dozen cabinet positions were changed during the reshuffle.

The prime minister’s reshuffle comes after Ms Rayner stepped down after ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus found that she had breached the ministerial code over her underpayment of stamp duty on her £800,000 flat in Hove, East Sussex.

She told the prime minister in a letter that "I deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice" and took "full responsibility for this error".

But former deputy Labour leader Baroness Harman told Sky News she believed there was a way back for Ms Rayner.

Other Cabinet Changes

• Yvette Cooper moves from Home Secretary to Foreign Secretary.
• Shabana Mahmood promoted from Justice Secretary to Home Secretary.
• Steve Reed becomes Housing Secretary.
• Pat McFadden takes charge of a newly expanded Work and Pensions department.
• Douglas Alexander appointed Scotland Secretary.
• Liz Kendall moves to Science and Technology.
• Emma Reynolds takes Environment.
• Peter Kyle becomes Business Secretary.
• Jonathan Reynolds named Chief Whip.
• Alan Campbell appointed Leader of the House of Commons.

Lucy Powell and Ian Murray were removed from their cabinet roles.