Keir's Red revolution begins with coffee... and an order to get down to work: First pictures inside new Cabinet as Labour era begins with vow to renationalise railways, axe Rwanda plan, negotiate junior doctors' 35% pay demands and Brexit talks

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The Red revolution began with coffee and congratulations today as Keir Starmer gathered his new Cabinet.

Sir Keir and his jubilant senior ministers met in Downing Street for the first time after his dramatic landslide triumph, saying it had been the 'honour and privilege of my life' to be asked to form a government.

Flanked by deputy PM Angela Rayner, Sir Keir warned his team they have a 'huge amount of work to do'.

The premier appointed the Cabinet last night after the extraordinary scale of his victory - achieved despite Labour receiving fewer votes than under Jeremy Corbyn in 2017 - became clear.

Rachel Reeves has made history as the UK's first woman Chancellor and Yvette Cooper is Home Secretary. 

Sir Keir spoke to a host of foreign leaders last night, including reaffirming the 'Special Relationship' with Joe Biden and telling EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen he wanted 'close cooperation'. 

He has made clear the government will make good on its promise to ditch the Rwanda deportation plan, despite claims it was having an effect on Channel boats. 

Meanwhile, incoming Health Secretary Wes Streeting has already opened talks with the BMA over the junior doctors' strikes, sparking fears he could offer big concessions to their demands for 35 per cent pay hikes. 

And new Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has pledged to nationalise Britain's railways 'as soon as possible'. 

As Britain wakes up to a dramatically changed political map:

  • Sir Keir is promising to go on tour around the four UK nations in the coming days saying he will not be 'tribal' and wants to work with devolved administrations;
  • Furious Tory manoeuvring is under way as a leadership contest looms, with calls for the party to shift to the Right;
  • Nigel Farage is set to do a walkabout in Essex with another of the five Reform MPs; 
Keir Starmer warned his new Cabinet they have a 'huge amount of work to do' today as kicked off Labour's era in power

Keir Starmer warned his new Cabinet they have a 'huge amount of work to do' today as kicked off Labour's era in power

1. Lords Leader Baroness Smith of Basildon; 2. Science Secretary Peter Kyle; 3. Commons Leader Lucy Powell; 4. Cabinet Secretary Simon Case; 5. Deputy PM Angela Rayner; 6. Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden; 7. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson; 8. Defence Secretary John Healey; 9. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall; 10. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh; 11. Environment Secretary Steve Reed; 12. Attorney General Richard Hermer; 13. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray; 14. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn; 15. Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens; 16. Health Secretary Wes Streeting; 17. Foreign Secretary David Lammy; 18. Chancellor Rachel Reeves; 19. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper; 20. Business Secretary Jon Reynolds; 21. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood; 22. Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband; 23. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy

1. Lords Leader Baroness Smith of Basildon; 2. Science Secretary Peter Kyle; 3. Commons Leader Lucy Powell; 4. Cabinet Secretary Simon Case; 5. Deputy PM Angela Rayner; 6. Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden; 7. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson; 8. Defence Secretary John Healey; 9. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall; 10. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh; 11. Environment Secretary Steve Reed; 12. Attorney General Richard Hermer; 13. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray; 14. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn; 15. Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens; 16. Health Secretary Wes Streeting; 17. Foreign Secretary David Lammy; 18. Chancellor Rachel Reeves; 19. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper; 20. Business Secretary Jon Reynolds; 21. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood; 22. Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband; 23. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy    

Angela Rayner
New Chancellor Rachel Reeves was also up early, after becoming the first women ever to hold the post

DPM Angela Rayner and Chancellor Rachel Reeves were in Downing Street early this morning (pictured) as the new Labour government tries to get a running start 

A moving crew was moving furniture and works of art out of Downing Street today

A moving crew was moving furniture and works of art out of Downing Street today 

Packing cases have been seen being moved around Downing Street today

Packing cases have been seen being moved around Downing Street today

Incoming Health Secretary Wes Streeting has already opened talks with the BMA over the junior doctors' strikes, sparking fears he could offer big concessions to their demands for 35 per cent pay hikes

Incoming Health Secretary Wes Streeting has already opened talks with the BMA over the junior doctors' strikes, sparking fears he could offer big concessions to their demands for 35 per cent pay hikes

Who's in Keir's Cabinet?

  • Angela Rayner - Deputy PM, Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary
  • Rachel Reeves - Chancellor of the Exchequer
  • David Lammy - Foreign Secretary
  • Yvette Cooper - Home Secretary
  • John Healey - Defence Secretary
  • Wes Streeting - Health Secretary
  • Bridget Phillipson - Education Secretary
  • Shabana Mahmood - Justice Secretary 
  • Pat McFadden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
  • Ed Miliband - Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary
  • Liz Kendall - Work and Pensions Secretary
  • Jonathan Reynolds - Business and Trade Secretary
  • Peter Kyle - Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary
  • Louise Haigh - Transport Secretary 
  • Lisa Nandy - Culture Secretary
  • Steve Reed - Environment Secretary
  • Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
  • Richard Hermer - Attorney General 
  • Ian Murray - Scottish Secretary
  • Hilary Benn - Northern Ireland Secretary
  • Jo Stevens - Welsh Secretary
  • Lucy Powell - Leader of the House of Commons
  • Baroness Smith - Leader of the House of Lords
  • Sir Alan Campbell - Chief Whip 
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Sir Keir told Cabinet: 'Look colleagues, it is absolutely fantastic to welcome you to the Cabinet, our first meeting.

'And it was the honour and privilege of my life to be invited by the King, His Majesty the King yesterday to form a government and to form the Labour Government of 2024.

'And now we hold our first Cabinet meeting. So I welcome you to it.

'We have a huge amount of work to do, so now we get on with our work.'

Sir Keir made a raft of appointments last night as he swapped places with defeated Rishi Sunak and basked in the blow of Labour's historic landslide.

He stayed at his London home with wife Victoria last night, but is expected to move into Downing Street soon.

The PM confirmed Ms Reeves as Britain's first woman chancellor, Yvette Cooper as Home Secretary and David Lammy as Foreign Secretary.

Ms Rayner has officially become his Deputy Prime Minister and retained the levelling up, housing and communities brief.

John Healey was named Defence Secretary; Shabana Mahmood Justice Secretary; Wes Streeting Health Secretary; Bridget Phillipson Education Secretary; and Ed Miliband Energy Secretary.

In surprise moves, former government science chief Patrick Vallance - a familiar face from Covid press conferences - has been given a peerage and made science minister.

James Timpson, a campaigner on prisons reform and also head of the key-cutting and shoe repairs firm, has also been elevated and made prisons minister.

But Emily Thornberry has been snubbed for the job of Attorney General, which she shadowed in Opposition. Instead a close ally of Sir Keir, Richard Hermer KC, has been handed the role. 

After 649 of the 650 Commons seats declared Labour has a majority of 176.

Labour had 412 seats and the Tories 121, the worst result in the Conservative Party's history.

The Liberal Democrats won 71 seats, while Reform netted five.

A recount in the last seat left to declare: Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire; will not start until 10.30am on Saturday, delaying the final result of the General Election.

In his first speech on Downing Street, Sir Keir said the British people had voted 'decisively for change'.

He said the country could 'move forward together' as Labour took office following 14 years of Conservative rule.

Mr Streeting posted on social media last night: 'I have just spoken over the phone with the BMA junior doctors committee, and I can announce that talks to end their industrial action will begin next week.

'We promised during the campaign that we would begin negotiations as a matter of urgency, and that is what we are doing.'

Pat McFadden, who played a central role in shaping Labour's election campaign and was named Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said the new Cabinet would meet on Saturday.

He told BBC Radio 4 that Sir Keir would have to quickly allocate responsibilities and 'give his new Cabinet their marching orders and then there's big international events coming.

'We have a Nato summit next week. That will be his first moment on the international stage. And while he's doing that, he will want his new Cabinet to get on with it pretty quickly.'

He said high on Sir Keir's agenda will be the six first steps Labour has set out: delivering economic stability, cutting NHS waiting times, launching a new border security command, setting up Great British Energy, cracking down on anti-social behaviour, and recruiting 6,500 new teachers.

Keir Starmer will gather his senior ministers in Downing Street this morning on his first full day, as well as holding a press conference around lunchtime

Keir Starmer will gather his senior ministers in Downing Street this morning on his first full day, as well as holding a press conference around lunchtime

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper
Foreign Secretary David Lammy

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrive for Cabinet today

Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband in Downing Street today

Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband in Downing Street today

John Healey
Lisa Nandy

John Healey and Lisa Nandy were also at Cabinet this morning

Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds in Downing Street today

Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds in Downing Street today

Transport Secretary Lou Haigh in Downing Street for the first Cabinet meeting today

Transport Secretary Lou Haigh in Downing Street for the first Cabinet meeting today

The new chief whip Alan Campbell in Downing Street today

The new chief whip Alan Campbell in Downing Street today

Sir Keir and wife Victoria were clapped into Downing Street yesterday (pictured), but Labour's victory is being dubbed a 'loveless landslide' and a 'super meh-jority'

Sir Keir and wife Victoria were clapped into Downing Street yesterday (pictured), but Labour's victory is being dubbed a 'loveless landslide' and a 'super meh-jority' 

Attorney General Richard Hermer arrives at Downing Street in London last night

Attorney General Richard Hermer arrives at Downing Street in London last night

Staff were polishing up the famous Downing Street door today as the new government settles in

Staff were polishing up the famous Downing Street door today as the new government settles in

Just days after his appointment, Sir Keir will be propelled onto the international stage, jetting to Washington DC for the Nato leaders' summit, where discussions will include support for Ukraine.

He is also due to host the European Political Community summit in the UK on July 18.

The PM and Mr Biden and discussed their commitment to the special relationship between the UK and US, protecting the gains of the Good Friday Agreement and support for Ukraine.

Sir Keir also spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and reassured him of the 'unwavering commitment' and said the UK would continue supplying defensive support.

He had calls Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

He also talked to Irish premier Simon Harris, who accepted an invitation to visit Downing Street on July 17 and Scottish First Minister John Swinney.