Winners and losers as Greater Manchester MPs affected by huge Government reshuffle

The wide ranging changes followed the resignation of Angela Rayner

18:23, 07 Sep 2025Updated 19:54, 07 Sep 2025

Angela Rayner stepped down from her roles as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary(Image: PA)

The resignation of Ashton-under-Lyne MP triggered a huge reshuffle of the cabinet.

And Greater Manchester’s MPs were among those to be affected by wide ranging changes to the make up of the Government. The biggest casualty was Angela Rayner herself, who offered her resignation after she admitted not paying enough stamp duty on a second home.

She lost her role as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary. She also stepped down as the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, and will return to the backbenches in the House of Commons.

It was a catastrophic and sudden fall from grace, for a northern, working class woman who had overcome many hurdles to become one of the most powerful people in the country. Her resignation on Friday led Sir Keir Starmer to decide that rather than just replacing Ms Rayner, he would totally reshape his cabinet team.

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Wigan MP Lisa Nandy is now the most senior Greater Manchester MP within the cabinet. She retained her post as Culture Secretary, which she took following Labour’s landslide election victory last year.

Stalybridge MP Jonathan Reynolds also remained in the cabinet, but left his role as Business Secretary and became the Chief Whip, with responsibility for party discipline and voting. Two Greater Manchester MPs lost their Government roles as part of the changes.

Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell was replaced as Leader of the House of Commons, and Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton MP Jim McMahon lost his job as Local Government Secretary.

Lucy Powell MP(Image: PA)

In terms of more junior positions, Josh Simons, the MP for Makerfield, has now been handed a role in the Government as Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office. His role is as cover for Satvir Kaur MP, who is currently on maternity leave.

Bury South MP Christian Wakeford retained his position in the Government Whip’s office. Andrew Western, the MP, for Stretford and Urmston, also remains as Parliamentary Under Secretary in the Department for Work and Pensions,

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Wythenshawe and Sale East MP Mike Kane left his post as Parliamentary Under Secretary in the Department for Transport, and Manchester Withington MP Jeff Smith left his position as a Government Whip.

The Prime Minister said he was focused on ‘delivery’ as the full details of the reshuffle were announced over the weekend.

“The new ministers will drive forward our growth agenda with a relentless focus,” Sir Keir said.

“Phase two of this Government is about delivery and this is a Government that will renew Britain and deliver the change people voted for.”