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Keir Starmer grabbed coffee with deputy Angela Rayner today as they tried to paper over tensions including damaging allegations of snobbery after the elections meltdown.
The Labour leader and Ms Rayner were pictured in Parliament seemingly seeing the funny side of the bitter rows and botched reshuffle that followed the ballot box disaster.
The image emerged after Sir Keir used the first meeting of his overhauled shadow cabinet to praise Ms Rayner s big new role - despite claims he only gave her a beefed-up role after she refused to be shifted to the health brief.
Other moves in the overhaul were also far more limited than heralded. In the biggest change, shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds was demoted and replaced by Rachel Reeves.
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Boris Johnson is set to reclaim powers to trigger an early election - amid swirling rumours that he will turn the screw on crisis-hit Labour by calling a vote in 2023.
The PM has not had full control over the timing of an election for a decade, since the Cameron-Clegg Coalition passed the Fixed-term Parliaments Act.
Instead national contests are meant to take place every five years unless there are extraordinary circumstances.
However, Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg has confirmed that the Queen s Speech tomorrow will include repealing the legislation.
Going back to the previous arrangements where premiers are able to choose the timing will massively increase pressure on Sir Keir Starmer after disastrous elections.
Birmingham Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood comes in as national campaign co-ordinator. Ms Rayner has also been given other responsibilities in the reshuffle, with Labour confirming she will be shadow first secretary of state, while also having a “future of work” brief. Taking to Twitter, Ms Rayner said she would “work tirelessly to reform our party” in order to “show that the Labour Party speaks for the working class”. As part of the firing and hiring, Nick Brown has been replaced as shadow chief whip by Alan Campbell, while Thangam Debbonaire has been moved to shadow Commons leader. The decision to dismiss Mr Brown, who had served in government as Gordon Brown’s chief whip before taking the shadow equivalent job under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, was criticised by a Labour grandee.
Ms Dodds will be taking up the position of party chair which Ms Rayner was demoted from.
Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds Credit: Jacob King/PA
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Rachel Reeves has been promoted to the position of shadow chancellor.
Ms Rayner will move into Ms Reeves former post as shadow chancellor to the Duchy of Lancaster.
Chief Whip Nick Brown has been axed and will be replaced by his deputy, Alan Campbell.
Lucy Powell has replaced Thangam Debbonaire as shadow housing secretary, while Ms Debbonaire has replaced Valerie Vaz as shadow leader of the House of Commons.
Sir Keir Starmer reshuffles Labour team amid threats over leadership
Seven senior roles switched, including Anneliese Dodds who was removed as shadow chancellor
10 May 2021 • 12:00am
Angela Rayner was elected deputy leader at the same time Sir Keir Starmer, and cannot be sacked by him from that role, which has its own mandate from party members.
One Labour source said she was negotiating from a position of strength
Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Sir Keir Starmer on Sunday night reshuffled his shadow cabinet, switching people in seven senior roles in an attempt to reset after disappointing local elections and days of infighting.