Does Starmer mean business?

After a resounding victory for Labour at last week’s general election, the Prime Minister has started to appoint his new cabinet and his team of ministers. But what does this tell us about Sir Keir Starmer and his plans for the country?

Well, first of all, he has remained (almost) entirely loyal to the Shadow Cabinet that was part of his team when he was Leader of the Opposition. The only original that didn’t reach Cabinet is Emily Thornberry who was lined up to be Attorney General.?

Keeping the same team as before means that Rachel Reeves is the new Chancellor of the Exchequer - an historic move meaning she becomes the first woman to fill the role. A former Bank of England economist, she has been part of efforts by Labour party politicians to get business leaders back on side. In the run up to the election she went on a so-called ‘smoked salmon and scrambled egg’ offensive. That is to say that she had breakfast meetings with many business leaders, outlining her plans should she be made Chancellor.

For as much as there were no surprises in the appointment of the Cabinet, a few of the appointments to ministerial level roles have definitely made people sit up and take notice.?

Love it or loathe it, one of the quirks of the British political system means that you can appoint pretty much anybody to be a minister in your government. And the Prime Minister is using the House of Lords to put people into his government from outside politics.

One of the most eye catching is James Timpson - yes, the man you go to when you need a key cut or new soles for your shoes. James, or Lord Timpson as he will soon be known, is now the Minister for Prisons, Parole and Probation. What does the Chief Executive of a beloved high street chain have to do with prisons I hear you say? As well as being a respected business leader he is also known for employing ex-offenders and being an outspoken campaigner on the need to reform prisons.

Another is Sir Patrick Vallance - yes, the man who we all watched every night for the first few weeks of Covid telling us that we were well and truly up the proverbial creek. After a number of years as the government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, appointing him to be Minister for Science does seem like a common sense move.

Ultimately, Starmer’s choices reflect a pragmatic approach to governance, blending political savvy with real-world expertise. Whether these unconventional picks will thrive in the political arena remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Sir Keir Starmer is not afraid to shake things up. Buckle up, Britain – it’s going to be an interesting few years!