Former Glasgow East MP Margaret Curran departs Ed Miliband’s department in shock resignation – as Downing Street scrambles to find replacement
A Labour minister has sensationally quit her role after just 15 days in the job, leaving Sir Keir Starmer’s government scrambling for a replacement in an embarrassing blow to the Prime Minister.
Baroness Margaret Curran, who was appointed to Ed Miliband’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on May 22, resigned on Friday afternoon citing health reasons – marking one of the shortest ministerial tenures in recent political history.
The shock departure comes as a major setback for the Energy Secretary, who had brought in the veteran Scottish Labour politician to oversee nuclear energy policy and planning decisions in the House of Lords.
HEALTH CRISIS FORCES EXIT
A Government spokesman confirmed: “We thank Baroness Curran for her work at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, delivering our clean energy mission. Baroness Curran has resigned due to health reasons. We send her our best wishes at this time and ask for her privacy to be respected.”
GB News understands that Curran’s departure was due to a health condition that she initially believed would be manageable in the job, but proved too difficult to handle alongside ministerial responsibilities.
The 66-year-old peer had taken up the role with enthusiasm just two weeks ago, replacing the retiring Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, 76, who had stepped down from frontline politics.
FROM COMMONS TO LORDS
Curran’s political journey has been marked by both triumph and defeat. The Glasgow-born politician served as MP for Glasgow East from 2010 to 2015, when she was swept away in the SNP tsunami that decimated Scottish Labour.
During her Commons career, she held the prestigious role of Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland from 2011 to 2015 under Ed Miliband’s leadership, making her a familiar face in Labour’s top team.
Prior to Westminster, Curran had been a heavyweight in Scottish politics, serving as an MSP for Glasgow Baillieston from 1999 to 2011 and holding multiple ministerial positions in the Scottish Executive, including Minister for Social Justice and Minister for Communities.
STARMER’S PEERAGE REWARD
Sir Keir Starmer nominated Curran for a life peerage in late 2024, recognising her decades of service to the Labour Party. She was created Baroness Curran, of Townhead in the City of Glasgow, on 15 January 2025, and introduced to the House of Lords the following day.
Her elevation came as part of Starmer’s efforts to bolster Labour’s presence in the Lords and bring experienced politicians into government roles.
Just four months after taking her seat in the upper chamber, she was handed the energy minister brief – a role that would have seen her oversee crucial nuclear energy policy and individual planning decisions.
NET ZERO CHAMPION
Before her appointment, the Labour peer had spoken passionately about climate change and the importance of net zero policies, declaring them “vital” to Britain’s future.
The stark reality that we must face is climate change and what it will do to us,” she had stated, making her a natural fit for Miliband’s department focused on achieving the UK’s ambitious climate targets.
Her ministerial responsibilities were set to include nuclear energy oversight and planning decisions, crucial areas as the government pushes forward with its clean energy agenda.
GOVERNMENT STABILITY QUESTIONED
The resignation marks a rare disruption to what has been a relatively stable Starmer government, which has largely avoided high-profile departures since taking office.
The most notable previous resignation was International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds in February, who quit over Labour’s controversial cuts to foreign aid – funds that were redirected to defence spending.
Starmer has also faced internal party discipline issues, removing the whip from seven MPs who voted against the two-child benefit cap in July last year, and suspending Mike Amesbury after his conviction for common assault.
SCRAMBLE FOR REPLACEMENT
Downing Street confirmed that Lady Curran’s replacement as energy minister in the Lords is yet to be announced, leaving a key government position vacant at a critical time for energy policy.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero now faces the challenge of finding an experienced peer to take on the nuclear and planning brief, with several crucial decisions pending.
POLITICAL DYNASTY CONTINUES
Despite her early exit from ministerial office, Curran’s political legacy continues through her family. Her son Chris Murray was elected as Labour MP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh in the 2024 general election, carrying on the family’s tradition of public service.
Curran, who lives in Glasgow with husband Robert “Rab” Murray, had listed her interests in Who’s Who as “reading, theatre, American politics” and “spending time with my sons” – time she will now have in abundance following her sudden departure from government.
As Westminster digests this latest ministerial casualty, questions will inevitably be asked about the demands placed on ministers and whether more support is needed for those juggling health conditions with the pressures of high office.
For now, Ed Miliband must press ahead with his ambitious energy agenda minus one minister – and Sir Keir Starmer must fill yet another unexpected gap in his government ranks.
Image credit:
“Margaret Curran” by the Scottish Government is licensed under the Open Government Licence v1.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
