Lord chancellor David Lammy was one of the first senior figures in the Starmer administration to be shown the door when Andy Burnham took over as prime minister today. 

The move will raise further doubts about the future of the plans for curbs on jury trials under the Courts and Tribunals Bill.

Lammy, a Starmer loyalist, had been expected to move on with the change of leadership. Another widely predicted departure was that of the attorney general, Lord Hermer (Richard Hermer KC), who has also lost his job. 

Lammy said in a statement on social network X that it has been the 'great privilege of my life' to serve in Starmer's government as foreign secretary, justice secretary and as Britain's first black deputy prime minister'. He added:  'I would have been proud to continue serving in Cabinet. But a new prime minister is entitled to build his own team, and I wish Andy Burnham and the new Cabinet every success.'

Lammy, a non-practising barrister, was appointed to the role in September last year, taking over from Shabana Mahmood who had been liffle over a year in post. His replacement will be the 13th lord chancellor in just over a decade. 

David Lammy MP arrives at Royal Courts of Justice to be sworn in as lord chancellor

Lammy: 'A new prime minister is entitled to build his own team'

Source: Michael Cross

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Hermer was last week criticised by the lady chief justice for failing to correct inaccuracies in a Crown Prosecution Service press release about a controversial sentencing decision. In a post on Bluesky, Hermer said: 'It has been the privilege of my life to serve my country as attorney general over the last two years.I’ve been so lucky to be a part of Keir’s team, as he delivered for the public at home while rebuilding the UK’s reputation abroad, in particular on the rule of law.'

Portrait of Richard Hermer

Hermer: 'In particular, on the rule of law'

Source: Michael Cross

The departures follow that of James Timpson, who resigned as prisons minister this morning ahead of the reshuffle announcements. 

In wholesale change at the top of the Cabinet table, John Healey was appointed chancellor of the exchequer and Ed Miliband foreign secretary. Shabana Mahmood remains as home secretary, suggesting that her immigration reforms, including changes to the interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights, will remain on the agenda. 'We have begun the work of major reform, to make our streets safer and our immigration system fair for all,' she posted.  'Now let’s finish the job.'

 

Update: Alex Norris MP, a non-lawyer, is named as lord chancellor; Ellie Reeves MP promoted to attorney general.