Keir Starmer accused of promoting 'narrow band of Blairites' as he demotes Lisa Nandy

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Sir Keir Starmer said his shadow cabinet reshuffle meant Labor had the 'strongest possible players on the pitch' after demoting Lisa Nandy ahead of the next election

The biggest winner of the Supreme team shake-up appears to be his deputy Angela Rayner, whom Ms Nandy handed the broad upgrade mandate and was officially named Shadow Deputy Prime Minister.

The decision to move Ms Rayner, who had previously followed the Cabinet Office, saw Ms Nandy – seen as a figurehead of Labour’s ‘soft left’ – demoted to international development officer .

This means the MP for Wigan, who rivaled Sir Keir. in leadership in 2020, is now Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy's sole deputy - a post he replaced her in just under two years ago.

A source close to Ms Nandy reported that there would be no dissent on the matter. her relegation, saying she was a team player and looked forward to "getting stuck in her new role".

But lobby groups Momentum and Compass have accused Sir Keir to promote a "restricted group of Blairites". – arguing that the reshuffle amounted to “a shift to the right and a narrowing of the diversity of views”.

After negotiations with Sir Keir, Ms Rayner emerged in a stronger position with a reinforced set of responsibilities. . His move to the upgrade docket, a role that supports housing and economic opportunity outside of the Southeast, went easier for the leader than the May 2021 reshuffle.

Other Starmer's close allies were given promotions, including Shabana Mahmood, who rose from national campaign co-ordinator to shadow justice secretary.

Birmingham Ladywood MP reportedly given her new role as a reward for helping reshape the party's campaign. machine and overseeing by-election and local election successes since her appointment two years ago.

Lisa Nandy has been demoted to development international

(PA Archive)

Liz Kendall, who ran unsuccessfully for party leadership in 2015 against Jeremy Corbyn and is considered to be on the right of...