Cabinet reshuffle after Rayner quits over flat tax

SIR Keir Starmer has begun a major reshuffle of his senior team, after Angela Rayner resigned from the Government for breaching the ministerial code when she did not pay enough stamp duty on a seaside home.

- PRESS ASSOCIATION REPORTERS

Reports suggest that David Lammy will replace Ms Rayner as the Deputy Prime Minister. He also becomes the Justice Secretary, moving from his role as Britain’s top diplomat, the Foreign Secretary.

Shabana Mahmood, formerly the justice secretary, is the new Home Secretary, the PA news agency understands. Yvette Cooper has moved from her brief at the Home Office to take over Mr Lammy’s former job as Foreign Secretary, several media reports have suggested.

Pat McFadden, a senior minister within the Cabinet Office, is taking over a new “super ministry” comprised of the Department for Work and Pensions and the skills remit of the Department for Education, according to sources.

Steve Reed has taken over Ms Rayner’s brief as Housing Secretary, leaving behind his role as environment secretary, it is understood.

Lucy Powell and Ian Murray have been sacked as leader of the House of Commons and Scotland secretary respectively.

Ms Rayner resigned as deputy PM, housing secretary and deputy Labour leader after Sir Keir’s ethics adviser said she failed to “heed the caution” contained within legal advice she received when buying an £800,000 property in Hove.

The outgoing deputy prime minister admitted she had underpaid stamp duty on the flat and referred herself to Sir Laurie Magnus, the independent ethics adviser.