David Lammy has been appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary in Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet reshuffle, replacing Angela Rayner who resigned over her stamp duty scandal, BBC News reports.
The 52-year-old Tottenham MP moves from his role as Foreign Secretary to take on the dual position, combining leadership of the Ministry of Justice with serving as Starmer’s deputy. The appointment represents a significant elevation for one of Labour’s most experienced parliamentarians.
Lammy takes over the justice brief from Shabana Mahmood, who has been promoted to Home Secretary in the wider cabinet reorganisation announced on Friday.
Dual Role Responsibilities
The former Foreign Secretary will now oversee the courts, prison system, and probation services whilst also serving as the Prime Minister’s deputy. His appointment as Deputy PM notably differs from Rayner’s position, as Lammy does not hold the elected role of Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.
Lammy inherits significant challenges at the Ministry of Justice, including the ongoing prison capacity crisis and the controversial early release scheme implemented by his predecessor to address severe overcrowding.
The dual appointment demonstrates Starmer’s confidence in Lammy’s ability to manage multiple high-profile responsibilities whilst providing senior leadership across government.
Political Experience
First elected as MP for Tottenham in 2000, Lammy brings extensive ministerial experience from the Blair and Brown governments, having served in various roles between 2002 and 2010, including Minister of State for Higher Education.
His background as a barrister before entering Parliament provides valuable legal expertise for his new justice responsibilities. Lammy has been a prominent voice on social justice issues throughout his political career.
As Foreign Secretary since July 2024, he had been managing Britain’s international relations during a period of global turbulence, including the Ukraine conflict and Middle Eastern tensions.
Historic Appointment
Lammy’s elevation to Deputy Prime Minister makes him one of the most senior Black politicians in British government history, marking another milestone in his distinguished political career.
The appointment comes as part of a wider cabinet reshuffle following Rayner’s resignation, with Yvette Cooper moving from Home Secretary to Foreign Secretary and Mahmood taking over at the Home Office.
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Image Credit:
David Lammy (2024, cropped) — photo by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street, licensed OGL 3.0 (public sector information) with public-domain metadata via CC0
