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Jonathan Reynolds appointed business secretary

Jonathan Reynolds appointed business secretary
Jonathan Reynolds enters 10 Downing Street following Labour's landslide election victory on July 5, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
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New prime minister Keir Starmer named Jonathan Reynolds as the business and trade secretary on Friday.

Reynolds, 43, was elected to parliament in 2010 and has been deployed in several different policy roles by Labour, most notably as its liaison with the financial sector for four years until 2020, before taking over the business and trade brief.


He has promised closer partnership between Labour and business to deliver an industrial strategy centred on green energy investment and building national resilience to external shocks.

“We have many urgent priorities, and fundamentally must restore long-term growth and prosperity to the UK,” he wrote on X, following the appointment to the cabinet.

“At all times we will model the pro-business, pro-worker agenda that has commanded so much support.”

Starmer named Rachel Reeves as Britain's first female chancellor of the exchequer and Angela Rayner as his deputy on Friday.

Reeves, 45, a former Bank of England economist, spent her time serving in opposition mending relations with the business community that were strained under left-wing former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, and pitching to voters that the party could be trusted with their money.

Starmer appointed David Lammy as Britain's new foreign secretary and John Healey as defence secretary, while Yvette Cooper becomes home secretary.

Lammy and Healey take charge at a time of two global conflicts and have promised to maintain continued support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and press for a ceasefire in the fighting in Gaza.

Starmer has promised voters he will deliver change and provide political stability after 14 years of Conservative government that has seen five prime ministers and an even higher turnover of other key ministers, including 10 education secretaries.

The appointments of his most senior team were widely expected, with ministers being named to the policy briefs they held while serving in opposition.

Rayner will also serve as secretary for levelling up, housing and communities.

Wes Streeting was named health secretary, taking charge of a portfolio that will oversee the struggling National Health Service (NHS), one of the biggest issues on voters' minds ahead of the election.

Ed Miliband, previously a Labour Party leader, was appointed energy security and net zero secretary.

Shabana Mahmood was named as justice secretary, while Bridget Phillipson will be education secretary.

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