David Lammy Appointed UK Deputy PM as Yvette Cooper Named Foreign Secretary

David Lammy has been appointed as the new Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, replacing Angela Rayner who resigned amid a tax controversy involving underpayment of stamp duty on her property. Lammy, previously serving as Foreign Secretary, also takes on the role of Justice Secretary, while Yvette Cooper moves from Home Secretary to Foreign Secretary despite not having prior international experience. Shabana Mahmood replaces Cooper as Home Secretary, completing a significant cabinet reshuffle initiated by Prime Minister Keir Starmer following Rayner's departure. Lammy’s appointment is seen as a move to strengthen the leadership team during a challenging period for Starmer's government, with Lammy’s experience and political background considered assets despite some criticisms of his international impact. The reshuffle also reflects Starmer’s efforts to address key policy priorities, including migration control, with Cooper having recently negotiated bilateral agreements on this issue. Rayner’s resignation triggered a deputy leadership election for the Labour Party and raised questions about ministerial code breaches within the government.