Chaos surrounding Labour’s “Phase Two” in government has delayed talk of an impending reshuffle. Starmer’s lost the appetite…
The plan at the beginning of the year was to go after the dust settled from the Spending Review. There is little chance of that now…
Poorly-sourced speculation stories from newspapers that there would be a reshuffle before then – also putting up Phillipson and Hermer as write-offs – have proven wide of the mark. Typical…
Some wobbles over Reeves have been stabilised and Guido hears from Downing Street sources that despite hopes from the Labour backbenches there is “no chance” she will leave in the short-term. Reeves is useful to Starmer as a punching bag – for as long as she can weather it…
Rayner resolved her arguments at the Spending Review and has been guaranteed the housing brief. Starmer is as usual intensely focussed on foreign policy and visits, the team and execution for which have been polished by Downing Street. Can’t run from the voters forever…
Guido hears that plans are now up in the air – current thinking has any reshuffle taking place around conference season. The first McSweeney reshuffle may have to wait a few more months…
Starmer loyalist and Housing Secretary Steve Reed told Sky News that Starmer should not be replaced:
“We saw what the Tories did. They were in power for 14 years, and after 2016, I think we had nine education secretaries, seven chancellors, and five Prime Ministers. Doomscrolling through Prime Ministers doesn’t resolve the problem.”