The ins, the outs, and the TBCs in Keir's new cabinet

The top jobs were all straightforward enough, as most members of Keir Starmer's shadow cabinet were translated to the equivalent jobs in the real cabinet.

- JOHN RENTOUL

A series of quick announcements on Friday afternoon rattled quickly through 22 posts, with the only deviation from shadow roles being Lisa Nandy, appointed culture secretary to take the place of Thangam Debbonaire, the shadow minister who lost her Bristol Central seat to Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party.

Two more appointments were expected: Alan Campbell was confirmed as chief whip, and Darren Jones as chief secretary to the Treasury. They are not full members of the cabinet, and do not receive the associated higher salary, but they are entitled to attend cabinet meetings.

‘Sorry and surprised’ Thornberry

Then came the surprises. The attorney general, the government’s legal adviser, is another senior minister who is entitled to attend cabinet, but the job went to Richard Hermer, a lawyer who is head of Matrix Chambers, rather than to Emily Thornberry, the MP who had been shadow attorney general. He will be given a peerage so that he can serve as a minister from the House of Lords.

Thornberry was not happy about it, but waited until yesterday before issuing a statement saying she was “very sorry and surprised” not to continue her work in government.