In a whirlwind autumn for British politics, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer finds himself at the center of a government in flux, grappling with the rapid departure of senior figures and a sweeping cabinet reshuffle. The events of the past week alone have left Westminster reeling, with the sacking of Lord Mandelson as the UK’s Ambassador in the United States and the resignation of Angela Rayner as deputy prime minister, both under clouds of controversy.
According to BBC News, the attrition rate of senior government figures has reached a startling pace—one high-profile exit per week this autumn. The sense of instability has been palpable, with ministers and officials alike struggling to keep up with the relentless churn. The departure of Lord Mandelson on September 11, 2025, marked the latest in a series of dramatic exits, following a drip-drip of revelations about his relationship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The Foreign Office, in a statement released just before 11am on the day of Mandelson’s dismissal, cited "the depth and extent" of his relationship with Epstein as the key reason for his removal. Downing Street insisted that they had not previously realized the full scope of the connection, nor Mandelson’s private view that "Jeffrey Epstein's first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged." While Mandelson disputes the suggestion that he thought Epstein’s conviction was wrongful, he did privately support his friend, believed him, and thought the length of his sentence should be challenged. An email obtained by The Sun revealed Mandelson had urged Epstein to "fight for early release."
This episode marks the third time Lord Mandelson has lost a high-profile government role in a career spanning four decades. He previously resigned as trade and industry secretary in 1998 over a loan controversy, and again in 2001 as Northern Ireland Secretary following a dispute about a passport application for an Indian billionaire. The pattern—revelations, followed by the prime minister’s public support, and then a sudden departure—has become familiar territory for both Mandelson and the government he serves.
Angela Rayner’s resignation as deputy prime minister, housing secretary, and deputy Labour leader earlier this autumn only added to the turbulence. According to Press Association, Rayner stepped down after an independent ethics investigation found she failed to pay sufficient stamp duty on a seaside flat purchased in May 2025. The ethics watchdog, Sir Laurie Magnus, noted that while Rayner had acted "in good faith," the responsibility for correctly reporting and settling tax liabilities ultimately rested with her. The breach of the ministerial code, established only after media scrutiny, led to her resignation—a move widely seen as preempting her likely dismissal.
Rayner’s sudden exit triggered the first major reshuffle of Starmer’s premiership. The changes were far-reaching and included the replacement of Yvette Cooper as Home Secretary by Shabana Mahmood, with Cooper moving to the Foreign Office to replace David Lammy. Lammy, in turn, was elevated to Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary. The Home Office also saw the departure of Dame Angela Eagle and Dame Diana Johnson, with Sarah Jones stepping in as policing minister and Mike Tapp, a newcomer from Labour’s 2024 intake, joining the team alongside Alex Norris.
The shake-up extended far beyond the Home Office. Former Commons leader Lucy Powell and former Scotland secretary Ian Murray were dismissed, replaced by Sir Alan Campbell and Douglas Alexander, though Murray was later appointed junior minister in both the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Baroness Levitt, Starmer’s former principal legal adviser, became a justice minister, while businessman Jason Stockwood was tapped as investment minister, set to receive a peerage to take on the role. Chris Ward, Starmer’s principal private secretary, was promoted to Cabinet Office minister.
Not everyone in Labour’s ranks welcomed the changes. According to the PA news agency, some backbenchers voiced concerns that the reshuffle left the cabinet even less balanced, with one MP lamenting, "Angela made an unbalanced cabinet look slightly more balanced… Now even the semblance of that illusion is gone." Another, Liverpool Riverside Labour MP Kim Johnson, described the changes as "moving deck chairs on Titanic" and accused the leadership of creating a "London elite" that failed to represent the party’s "broad church."
The government’s official line, however, is one of renewed focus and delivery. No 10 stated that the reshuffle was aimed at "delivery," with an emphasis on economic growth and securing borders—an implicit nod to the criticism over the small boats crisis and speculation about tax rises in the forthcoming autumn Budget. Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones, now also Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, was quick to deny that the government was in crisis or that an early election was on the cards. "The Prime Minister had been planning a broader reshuffle on a slower timetable, but he brought that forward because that is his decision as Prime Minister. That’s exhibiting leadership and control, not chaos," Jones told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Still, the rapid succession of departures has raised questions about Starmer’s judgment and his knowledge of the issues that ultimately led to his colleagues’ downfalls. The prime minister now faces the unenviable task of finding a new ambassador to the United States, with names such as Dame Karen Pierce, Richard Moore, and Lord Sedwill being floated as possible replacements. The urgency is heightened by the imminent state visit of President Trump, adding further pressure to stabilize the government’s foreign policy team.
Adding to the complexity, Labour has introduced a new rule—effective from October 2025—that denies severance pay to ministers who leave office following a "serious breach" of the ministerial code. For Angela Rayner, whether she takes severance pay remains a personal decision, as the new rules had not yet come into force at the time of her resignation. Darren Jones clarified to Times Radio, "Just as a matter of fact, in this circumstance, that is a decision personally for Angela Rayner as opposed to for the Prime Minister, which is how that will work when our new rules become live next month."
The shadow of party infighting looms as the Labour conference approaches, with speculation swirling over who might fill the deputy leadership role vacated by Rayner. Some party insiders warn of potential splits, a claim dismissed by Jones, who told Sky News, "The Labour Party is not going to split and there won’t be an early election." Yet, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has predicted that the recent scandals and reshuffling could open up fissures within Labour’s ranks.
As Starmer attempts to reset his government and move past a bruising summer, the stakes could hardly be higher. With the eyes of both the public and his own party fixed firmly on his next moves, the prime minister’s ability to steady the ship and deliver on his promises will be put to the test in the weeks ahead.
For now, British politics remains in a state of flux, with new faces in key positions and old wounds far from healed. The coming days may prove decisive in determining whether Starmer’s gamble on a rapid reshuffle pays off—or if the turbulence of autumn 2025 will leave lasting scars on his government.
