Banbury MP given promotion by Keir Starmer amid resignations

Sean Woodcock MP is now a parliamentary private secretary (PPS), after Joe Morris, a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and Tom Rutland, a PPS to Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, Cabinet Office aide Naushabah Khan and Melanie Ward, a PPS to Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, all quit on Monday evening, May 11.

Department for Work and Pensions aide Gordon McKee and Ms Mahmood’s PPS Sally Jameson also left their posts, having expressed a loss of confidence in the Prime Minister.

This comes amid the biggest leadership crisis of Sir Keir Starmer’s premisership as as Cabinet ministers, including the Home Secretary, reportedly urged him to consider his position.

It has been widely reported, including by the Press Association, that 80 MPs have signed a letter urging Sir Keir to take this step, most of whom have publicly expressed their loss of confidence in his leadership.

This morning, Tuesday, May 12, Starmer has told his Cabinet that the “Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered” and insisted he would continue governing, Downing Street said.

Mr Woodcock’s new role seems like a move to stand with the PM.

The appointment does not see a pay boost for the MP, who will now take on the job of an unpaid assistant to a government minister.