London: After the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer initiated a major cabinet reshuffle and promoted David Lammy to the post of Deputy PM with additional charge as Justice Secretary.
Angela Rayner stepped down from her post after admitting to underpaying tax on a new home she recently bought on the south coast of England.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper succeeded him as Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Meanwhile British Pakistani Shabana Mahmood gets elevated to the Home Office from the Ministry of Justice.
Steve Reed, who formerly served as Environment Secretary, has now taken up the role of new Housing Secretary. Emma Reynolds will serve as Environment Secretary, who was previously former Economic Secretary to the Treasury.
As per investigation, she had breached the ministerial code of conduct. In a letter to Prime Minister Starmer, the government’s ethics adviser Laurie Magnus wrote that Rayner had failed to take proper tax advice and failed to meet the ministerial standards.
Later, in her resignation letter, she said, ” I accept that i did not meet the highest standards and deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice,” Rayner said, “I would like to take this opportunity to repeat that it was never my intention to do anything other than pay the right amount. I must also consider the significant toll that the ongoing pressure of the media is taking on my family,” as reported by global media.
Rayner, 45, also resigned as Labour’s deputy leader, which will be a major blow to the UK government.
