Angela Rayner stepped down last week as Deputy Prime Minister, Labour Party Deputy Leader and Housing Secretary, triggering one of the most consequential overhauls of Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet since Labour entered government last year. The reshuffle has reshaped the balance of power at the top of No 10 and brought sweeping changes that ethnic minority communities have hailed as helping to create one of the most diverse parliaments Britain has ever seen.
David Lammy has been elevated to deputy prime minister while retaining the Justice Secretary brief, making him the first Black Briton to hold the position. Shabana Mahmood has been appointed Home Secretary in a historic move, becoming the first Muslim woman to oversee the department (see page 13 for her profile). Yvette Cooper replaces Lammy as Foreign Secretary, and Rachel Reeves remains in post as Chancellor. For the first time in British political history, three women now hold the most senior cabinet offices alongside the prime minister.
Steve Reed takes over as Housing Secretary, tasked with delivering Labour’s flagship pledge of 1.5 million new homes by 2029, while Liz Kendall shifts from Work and Pensions to lead the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Further details of the deputy leadership election are expected soon, a contest likely to expose divisions in Labour’s ranks and potentially become a lightning rod for discontent over Starmer’s leadership.
Towards greater British Asian representation?
The cabinet reshuffle has drawn significant attention for its diversity milestones. Mahmood’s elevation to the Home Office cements her status as one of the highest-ranking ethnic minority politicians in British history.
Alongside her, Satvir Kaur MP joins the Cabinet Office as Parliamentary Secretary, Kanishka Narayan MP enters the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and Dr Zubir Ahmed MP joins Health and Social Care. Seema Malhotra moves to her new role as a Parliamentary Undersecretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, while Lisa Nandy, Culture Secretary and the first person of Indian descent to serve in a Labour cabinet, remains a key figure.
While a more diverse cabinet will help the Prime Minister regain the support of nearly 66 Labour MPs from the ethnic minority communities, there is criticism for not including more MPs from the Indian community, as he reshuffled his new Cabinet. There are around 43 Labour MPs of South Asian heritage. Out of which 26 are of Indian origin. But other than Nandy, who is half Indian, no one has held the key position of a State Secretary. How is it fair that out of 26 chose representatives from the community, only one has a senior position and hardly three have a place in the cabinet?
Also, given that we consider representation both in terms of ethnicity and faith, while around 25 Muslim MPs were elected in 2024, only 12 Sikh MPs and 9 Hindu MPs were elected at the same time. This disproportionate representation begs the question: why has a section of community that played such a significant role in Britain’s post-war story, and has been politically active for decades, failed to secure greater visibility in the Labour government and, more importantly, in positions of power?
Apart from that, MPs who have been ardent representatives of the community like Gareth Thomas, Barry Gardiner and former MP Virendra Sharma are missing from the government and it isn’t clear why these seasoned politicians are not being considered for different representative roles, even if not the cabinet.
Dr Neeraj Patil, heading Labour for Hindus commented on this reshuffle and steps being taken by the outfit to ensure stronger representation and engagement with the Hindu community and the wider Indian diaspora within the party. He said, “We must take a moment to celebrate the fact that a Muslim woman has now been appointed Home Secretary, just as we previously had Priti Patel, a Hindu woman, in the same role. First a Hindu woman, now a Muslim woman, and Kemi Badenoch, an Afro-Caribbean woman, being the Conservative leader; these examples show real progress for diversity and racial equality in Britain.
“As Hindus for Labour, we welcome this development. It is a positive step that demonstrates Britain is moving towards greater inclusivity. In the long run, what we want to see is a Great Britain where no one is discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, caste, gender, or ethnicity. The goal is to build a fair and equal country for everyone, and this is a step in that direction.
“Hindus for Labour is also working to ensure proportional representation of Hindus within the Labour Party. We are committed to increasing Hindu participation at every level—whether as councillors, MPs, or on key party bodies. Labour is an open and welcoming party for all communities, including ours.”
Lord Krish Raval OBE, leading Labour Indians listed the new Indian appointments and commented, “After sealing the historic Free Trade Agreement with India, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ensured that British Indian talent is recognised at home. Labour Indians takes pride in their achievements and is confident they will serve the country with distinction at a time of great consequence.
“It is vital that the very best people, irrespective of background, are called to serve. Labour Indians will continue to champion excellence across the board including, of course, within our own British Indian communities so that members can play their rightful role as leaders in the public square.
“In that spirit, we warmly congratulate David Lammy and Shabana Mahmood on their historic appointments as Deputy Prime Minister and Home Secretary.”
Providing a perspective from the community, Anil Bhanot, Managing Trustee of Hindu Council UK said, “While there is currently no major Hindu representation in the higher level in the cabinet, we do have Seema Malhotra serving as a minister in the Foreign Office. Our wider challenge is also that there are still relatively few Hindu MPs in parliament and it would be encouraging to see representation at the cabinet level in the future.”
Labour’s identity question
For years now, critics and even supporters of the Labour Party have voiced a common refrain: no one really knows what Labour stands for anymore. Once firmly rooted in the politics of the working class, Labour today appears caught between its historic values and the pragmatism demanded by governing in a globalised, complex Britain.
Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership has been defined less by bold ideological vision and more by careful positioning. His government has prided itself on competence, steadiness, and avoidance of the extremes that dogged Labour under Jeremy Corbyn. Yet in this cautious approach, many voters and community leaders feel Labour has blurred into technocracy rather than inspiration.
The signing of the much-heralded Free Trade Agreement with India was meant to be a flagship achievement of Starmer’s first year in office, signalling a reset in UK-India relations. But even here, the perception lingers that the deal is far more beneficial to Britain’s exporters and service industries than to India, which remains sceptical of the wider gains. For many in the Indian diaspora, it does not answer a more fundamental question: what does Labour’s economic and foreign policy vision mean for them, beyond trade figures?
The reshuffle, however, may yet prove to be a turning point. By elevating figures such as Shabana Mahmood, the first Muslim woman to serve as Home Secretary, and David Lammy, the UK’s first Black Deputy Prime Minister, Starmer has projected an image of a government that looks like the country it serves. Representation, though not a substitute for policy, does matter, it signals who gets to be part of the story of Britain.
The challenge for Starmer is twofold. First, to move beyond symbolism and diversity optics towards articulating what Labour really stands for in 2025: not just competence, but vision. Second, to repair and deepen relationships with communities, like the Indian diaspora, who feel both pride in Labour’s history and frustration at their present marginalisation.
Why did Angela Rayner resign?
Rayner’s resignation followed the conclusion of an inquiry by the prime minister’s ethics adviser, which found she had breached the ministerial code by failing to pay sufficient stamp duty on her Hove property. In her resignation letter, she admitted she had “not met the highest standards” expected of a minister, adding that the strain on her family had become “unbearable.” While stressing it was never her intention to underpay tax, she said she took “full responsibility for this error” and regretted not seeking specialist advice.
Her departure is a personal and political blow for Starmer, who had begun the week attempting to reset his government after a turbulent first year in office. In a handwritten letter, he praised Rayner as a “trusted colleague and true friend” and said she would remain a “major figure” in the Labour Party. Conservatives, however, seized on the scandal. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of weakness for not removing Rayner sooner, declaring: “Angela Rayner is finally gone. But it’s only because of Keir Starmer’s weakness that she wasn’t sacked three days ago.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has formally launched her bid to become Labour’s deputy leader, emerging as the most senior figure to enter the race so far.
She joins Clapham and Brixton Hill MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, the only other declared candidate in the contest. Lucy Powell, recently removed as Leader of the House of Commons, is widely expected to throw her hat into the ring in the coming days.
Other names in the mix include foreign affairs committee chair Emily Thornberry, who has said she is weighing a run. Former transport secretary Louise Haigh and Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan have both ruled themselves out.
Under the rules, candidates must secure nominations from at least 80 Labour MPs by Thursday evening to make it onto the ballot. They must also gain the backing of either 5% of local parties or three affiliated groups, including at least two trade unions. Those who qualify will face a vote of the Labour membership, with the result due to be announced on 25 October.
Rayner, who has represented Ashton-under-Lyne for a decade, rose rapidly after entering parliament in 2015, becoming one of Labour’s most powerful figures and a favourite among the backbenches. Her political troubles mounted after reports in the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail raised questions about her property dealings, leading to the resignation that has now reshaped Starmer’s government.
Labour’s shifting relationship with the Indian and especially Hindu community
The Labour Party has long been regarded as the natural political home for Britain’s Indian and Hindu communities. For decades, it was the first choice of many who arrived in the UK from India, East Africa, and other parts of the Commonwealth. The party’s historic association with anti-colonial movements, its working-class ethos, and its solidarity with campaigns for justice abroad meant that Labour once commanded deep loyalty among Indians in Britain.
Historically, Labour played a critical role during India’s struggle for independence. Leaders such as Clement Attlee, who oversaw India’s transition to freedom in 1947, were central figures in that movement. Many within the party consistently stood with Indian nationalists against colonial rule, with Labour members pressing for self-determination at a time when others resisted. This legacy cemented Labour’s image as the party that had supported India’s aspirations for sovereignty and equality.
In post-war Britain, as Indians and Hindus settled in large numbers, Labour was the natural political ally. Its policies on workers’ rights, immigration, housing, and equality resonated with new migrants seeking security and fairness in their adopted homeland. Labour was the party that understood the struggles of working people and minority communities, and it is no coincidence that the first waves of political representation for Indians in Britain came under Labour’s umbrella.
Yet, the present political landscape looks different. While Labour remains committed to diversity and inclusion, the absence of Hindu representation at the top levels of government has been noted. At one point, the community felt that Labour was its voice in Parliament. Today, that connection feels less certain, with many Indians and Hindus questioning whether their perspectives are adequately reflected.
Part of the challenge lies in numbers: there are relatively few Hindu MPs in Parliament compared to other groups, limiting the pool of potential cabinet ministers. However, symbolic representation matters, especially for a community that has historically been one of Labour’s strongest supporters.
As Labour redefines its relationship with Britain’s ethnic minorities, the question is whether it can rebuild the trust and loyalty of Indian and Hindu voters. The legacy of solidarity with India’s independence remains a proud chapter in Labour’s history. Reconnecting with that spirit, and ensuring meaningful representation, could go a long way in reviving the bond that once made Labour the natural home for the Hindu community in Britain.