Britain’s political scene witnessed a major shake-up as Prime Minister Keir Starmer appointed Pakistani-origin MP Shabana Mahmood as the new Home Secretary (Interior Minister).
The Rt Hon David Lammy MP @DavidLammy has been appointed as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice @MoJGovUK.
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) September 5, 2025
He will also be Deputy Prime Minister. pic.twitter.com/0wsoPtckUf
The decision came after Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner resigned over a tax controversy.
Rayner admitted she had underpaid about £40,000 ($54,000) in property tax when buying a new home.
Despite Starmer’s initial support, the independent adviser on ministerial standards found she had breached the ministerial code.
With heavy criticism mounting, she stepped down as both deputy prime minister and deputy party leader, expressing “deep regret” in her resignation letter.
To restore stability, Starmer carried out a deep cabinet reshuffle. Foreign Secretary David Lammy was promoted to Deputy Prime Minister, but in exchange, he gave up the prestigious foreign office.
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Yvette Cooper, formerly Interior Minister, was moved to Foreign Secretary, while Mahmood, who was Justice Secretary took over as Interior Minister.
At 44 years old, Mahmood is known as a bold yet reliable figure within Labour, described as a “safe pair of hands.”
Her appointment marks a historic moment, with a politician of Pakistani heritage now leading one of the most powerful offices in Britain.
Political experts see the reshuffle as Starmer’s attempt to regain authority after weeks of damaging headlines about Rayner’s finances.
But critics argue that Labour still lacks a clear direction, especially as Nigel Farage’s Reform UK gains momentum in opinion polls.
Farage used the moment to call Labour a “government in deep crisis” at his party conference, suggesting the next election might come earlier than 2029.
Rayner’s resignation adds to Starmer’s growing list of ministerial exits, eight so far, making his early tenure one of the most unstable in decades.
