Sweeping changes were needed for Labour to be serious about a fresh start

Britain has had six foreign secretaries in four years. This century, we have had a new housing minister every year on average. And we have had more prime ministers in the last 10 years than in the previous 36.

- 

Such churn in ministerial office is inimical to good administration. Just as a minister is beginning to understand the complex challenges of their department, the government car takes them to a new office where they are rendered useless by ignorance.

There was a time when Sir Keir Starmer seemed to agree with this analysis. He criticised the Conservatives for the instability of high ministerial turnover and promised a more settled period in the nation's affairs.

So it was a surprise that he used Angela Rayner's resignation to bring forward a reshuffle that he had already planned, and which involved moving more than half the cabinet.