SIR Keir Starmer brutally purged Home Office ministers as he used his reshuffle to try to stop the boats and prevent Reform’s Nigel Farage becoming Prime Minister.
He wielded the knife — sacking or moving sideways ministers he blamed for blocking much-needed reform.
Keir Starmer brutally purged Home Office ministers as he used his reshuffle to try to stop the boats[/caption]
Dame Diana Johnson was moved out of the Home Office and put into the DWP as a minister[/caption]
The PM focused on beefing up the ranks of his two core departments — the Home Office and the new super ministry of Department for Work and Pensions and Skills.
At the Home Office, Borders minister Dame Angela Eagle was reshuffled to farming as tough-talking Sarah Jones and Alex Norris were brought in.
Labour Wet Alison McGovern, who once described job centres as her “happy place”, was moved out of the DWP and into a housing role.
Diana Johnson was also moved out of the Home Office and put into the DWP as a minister.
Meanwhile, Labour tough-cookie and ex-Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was brought in to work at the department — which is led by Blairite reformer Pat McFadden.
Former Scottish Secretary Ian Murray was demoted and made a minister in the culture department.
And Reform-baiting Mike Tapp was brought into a junior ministerial role in the Home Office.
Meanwhile, Seema Malhotra was moved from a junior Home Office minister role to the Foreign Office.
The Sun on Sunday understands the PM did not phone those moved aside or demoted himself.
Instead, his new enforcer Darren Jones delivered the news, while new chief whip Jonathan Reynolds rang round handing out the promotions.
Jason Stockwood — co-owner of Grimsby Town football club — has also joined the Government as Investment Minister.
In a controversial move, the PM demoted Rachel Reeves’ sister, Ellie Reeves, stripping her of the Cabinet role of party chair and giving her the lesser post of Solicitor General.
Red-Waller Anna Turley was brought in to replace her — a sign that No10 knows it must reconnect with blue collar voters.
Hailing his new-look team, Sir Keir said: “The new ministers will drive forward our growth agenda with a relentless focus.
“Phase two of this government is about delivery and this is a Government that will renew Britain and deliver the change people voted for.”
The Cabinet will meet on Tuesday for their first meeting — with growth the only topic on the agenda.
Labour Wet Alison McGovern was moved out of the DWP and into a housing role[/caption]
Borders minister Dame Angela Eagle was reshuffled to farming[/caption]
Sir Keir and new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will try to seize the initiative from Reform by revealing fresh policy details to crack down on illegal immigration this week.
The PM was forced to bring forward his reshuffle when Deputy PM Angela Rayner quit over revelations she underpaid stamp duty by £40,000.
She also left as Housing Secretary and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party on Friday.
In a bizarre move, Labour HQ yesterday seized on Ms Rayner’s departure over the tax scandal to try to raise money for the party.
In an email, Labour said it was “disappointed to have had to see her stand down” and thanked her for her “incredible service”.
But it added the threat from Reform “is developing so rapidly that we cannot take our eye off the ball” and asked members to cough up £5 for the party’s piggy bank.
