Sir Keir Starmer has launched a sweeping reshuffle of junior ministers following the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner over her £40,000 stamp duty scandal, with Justin Madders becoming the latest casualty in a dramatic shake-up of the government’s lower ranks.
The MP for Ellesmere Port and Bromborough was sacked as Minister for Employment Rights on Friday evening, expressing disappointment at his departure after less than fourteen months in the role. The reshuffle extends beyond the cabinet changes triggered by Rayner’s resignation, reaching deep into the junior ministerial ranks as the Prime Minister attempts to reset his troubled administration.
In a resignation statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, Madders said he thought it was “disappointing” to have left his role. “It has been a real privilege to serve as Minister for Employment Rights & begin delivering on our plan to make work pay,” he wrote, adding: “Sadly it is now time to pass the baton on – I wish my successor well & will do what I can to help them make sure the ERB is implemented as intended.”
Vallance Promoted Amid Science Drive
The Government’s former chief scientific adviser Lord Vallance has been promoted as part of the junior ministerial reshuffle, becoming a minister of state in Ed Miliband’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in addition to his existing post as Science Minister. The move signals Starmer’s intention to strengthen scientific expertise across government departments.
Lord Vallance, who served as the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser from 2018 to 2023 and gained prominence during the Covid pandemic, represents one of the expert appointments Starmer has championed since taking office. His expanded role across two departments underscores the government’s stated commitment to science-led policymaking.
Dame Angela Eagle MP has been moved from her previous role as Minister for Border Security and Asylum to Minister of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The veteran Labour MP’s shift comes amid ongoing controversy over small boat crossings and asylum policy failures.
Business Mogul Gets Peerage for Minister Role
In an unprecedented move, English businessman Jason Stockwood has been nominated for a life peerage to bring him into government as Minister of State for Investment, working jointly across the Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury. Stockwood, who founded the online dating website Match.com and is majority shareholder of Grimsby Town FC, previously stood unsuccessfully in the Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral race under the Labour banner, losing to Reform UK’s Andrea Jenkyns.
The appointment of Stockwood, who built Simply Business into a £500 million company before its sale in 2017, reflects Starmer’s strategy of bringing business expertise directly into government. His elevation to the House of Lords specifically for a ministerial role has raised eyebrows among constitutional experts.
Michael Shanks, MP for Rutherglen, enters government as Minister of State jointly in the Department for Business and Trade and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Dan Jarvis takes on the role of Minister of State in the Cabinet Office whilst remaining Minister of State for the Home Department, creating another cross-departmental appointment.
Agricultural Crisis Claims Casualty
Daniel Zeichner has left his role as junior minister in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), his departure coming in the wake of a revolt over the Chancellor’s plans to cut the amount of inheritance tax relief available to family farms. The agricultural sector has been in uproar over the proposed changes, with farmers threatening protests across the country.
The reshuffle represents Starmer’s most significant reorganisation of government since taking office, extending far beyond the cabinet changes necessitated by Rayner’s resignation. Sources close to Number 10 suggest the Prime Minister had been planning a wider shake-up but was forced to accelerate his timeline following his deputy’s sudden exit.
Jim McMahon, who was ousted as local government minister, delivered a pointed parting message. “The public’s patience for change has run out,” the Oldham West and Royton MP said. The Labour government must recognise that all politics is family and community.
Opposition Seizes on Chaos
Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake seized on the turmoil, declaring: “This chaotic reshuffle shows a Downing Street in crisis – totally distracted from fixing the damage they’ve done to the economy, jobs and small businesses.
The sentiment was echoed across social media, with one commenter, John H, observing: “When you fail in one area of government under Labour you just get moved to another department so you can fail there too! Hardly getting Reform to quake in their boots.”
The timing of the reshuffle, coming just as Reform UK kicks off its annual party conference with Nigel Farage at the helm, has handed the opposition parties significant ammunition. Reform sources suggest they’re already preparing to capitalise on what they describe as “Labour in meltdown.
Starmer’s weakness is there for all to see,” a senior Reform figure told reporters. “He’s reshuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic whilst the country needs real leadership and real change.”
Wider Cabinet Upheaval
The junior ministerial changes follow Friday’s dramatic cabinet reshuffle triggered by Rayner’s resignation over underpaying stamp duty on her £800,000 Hove flat. David Lammy was elevated to Deputy Prime Minister whilst retaining his Justice brief, with Yvette Cooper moving to the Foreign Office and Shabana Mahmood taking over at the Home Office.
The scale of the changes – affecting multiple departments and creating several new cross-departmental roles – suggests Starmer is attempting a fundamental reorganisation of how government operates. The creation of joint ministerial positions across departments appears designed to break down traditional Whitehall silos.
However, critics argue the reshuffle represents panic rather than planning. This isn’t strategic thinking, it’s crisis management,” said one former Labour minister who asked not to be named. “Starmer’s been forced into this by Rayner’s resignation and he’s making it up as he goes along.
Employment Rights Bill in Limbo
The departure of Justin Madders raises particular concerns about the future of the Employment Rights Bill, Labour’s flagship legislation promising the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights for a generation. Madders had been instrumental in developing the legislation alongside Rayner, who championed the “Make Work Pay” agenda.
In his parting message, Madders pointedly wished his successor well in ensuring “the ERB is implemented as intended” – a phrase some interpret as concern that the legislation might be watered down following his and Rayner’s departures.
Trade union leaders have privately expressed alarm at losing two key allies in government on the same day. First Angela, now Justin – we’re watching very carefully to see who replaces them and whether the government’s commitment to workers’ rights remains intact,” one union source said.
Scientific Expertise Prioritised
The promotion of Lord Vallance appears to be one of the few strategic bright spots in the reshuffle. His expanded remit across both science and energy reflects the government’s stated ambition to put scientific expertise at the heart of policymaking, particularly around net zero targets and energy security.
During his tenure as Chief Scientific Adviser, Vallance became a household name during the pandemic, appearing alongside political leaders at daily press conferences. His elevation suggests Starmer values that experience and wants to deploy scientific credibility across government departments.
The appointment of business figure Jason Stockwood also signals an attempt to bring private sector expertise into government, though his need for a peerage to take up the role highlights the challenges of bringing outsiders into ministerial positions.
Agricultural Anger Deepens
Daniel Zeichner’s departure from Defra comes at a particularly sensitive time, with the farming community already in revolt over inheritance tax changes. His exit removes a minister who had been attempting to build bridges with agricultural interests, potentially deepening the government’s rural crisis.
The appointment of Dame Angela Eagle to the department may be seen as an attempt to bring heavyweight political experience to bear on the crisis, though her background in border security and asylum gives her little obvious preparation for agricultural policy.
“Farmers are watching to see if this reshuffle means any change in the government’s approach to rural communities,” said one National Farmers’ Union representative. “So far, we’re not encouraged by what we’re seeing.”
Political Fallout Continues
As the dust settles on one of the most dramatic days in recent political history, questions remain about the stability of Starmer’s government. The Prime Minister, who won a historic landslide just over a year ago, now faces multiple crises with his popularity at historic lows.
The reshuffle, while extensive, may not be enough to reset his troubled administration. With Reform UK gathering for their conference and the Conservatives sensing blood in the water, Starmer’s problems appear to be multiplying rather than diminishing.
This reshuffle won’t solve anything if the policies don’t change,” warns political analyst Dr Sarah Mitchell from the Institute for Government. Moving ministers around is no substitute for addressing the fundamental challenges facing the government.
As one Labour backbencher put it: “We’re rearranging the furniture while the house is on fire. The public won’t be fooled by a reshuffle – they want results, not musical chairs.
The coming weeks will reveal whether Starmer’s shake-up represents a genuine reset or merely a desperate attempt to change the narrative around a government that appears increasingly embattled on multiple fronts.
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Image Credit:
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer gives a press statement (21 Jan 2025) — photo by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street, OGL 3.0
