Most powerful politicians in Starmer's leadership 'quad'

As leader of the opposition, Keir Starmer tended to keep decision-making close, but as prime minister, he may have to consult more widely. He has promised to lead a team at the top of government, although the make-up of the inner ministerial circle is not clear. Journalists have been briefed about a "quad" of top cabinet ministers modelled on the four-person ruling group in the coalition government: Starmer, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Pat McFadden.

- JOHN RENTOUL

But Starmer has also identified a further four cabinet ministers as "mission leads", responsible for delivering the government's missions: Wes Streeting (health), Yvette Cooper (crime and borders), Bridget Phillipson (education) and Ed Miliband (green energy). They will all be allowed four special advisers instead of the usual two each allowed to other cabinet ministers.

Apart from the prime minister, here are the 10 most important people in the new government.

Rachel Reeves, chancellor

She has worked effectively with Starmer in opposition, setting out and sticking to a joint policy of fiscal responsibility. There have been tensions, such as over the slow retreat from the plan to borrow £28bn a year for green investment, but they were managed with decorum on both sides.

One of the aims of the "quad" is to keep the Treasury, the most powerful Whitehall department, aligned with No 10 rather than to allow it to become a rival centre of power.

Angela Rayner, deputy prime minister

Another test of the "quad" structure will be whether it succeeds in binding the leading figure in the Labour government who has a power base independent of the prime minister. Rayner is a street fighter who showed in opposition that she was adept at positioning herself to the left of the leader without open disloyalty, such as on the issue of blocking Diane Abbott as a Labour candidate - on which Rayner, with the mainstream of the party behind her, got her way. As cabinet minister responsible for housing and employment rights, she will work with Reeves to help deliver the "growth" mission.

Pat McFadden, Cabinet Office