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Posted: Fri 19th Jul 2024
Following the Labour Party's landslide victory in the General Election, Keir Starmer is appointing members of his Cabinet and junior ministers.
We're keeping this post updated as appointments are announced.
Rachel Reeves: Chancellor (the UK's first female chancellor)
Jonathan Reynolds: Business secretary
Peter Kyle: Science, innovation and technology
Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones said:
"We're delighted to see the work of change happening so promptly with Secretary of State for Business Jonny Reynolds setting up the team at the Department of Business and Trade and welcome Peter Kyle, secretary of state at the Department for Science Innovation and Technology.
"Entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses will play a crucial role in creating the growth our economy needs to see and we're rolling up our sleeves to support this urgent work.
"We're also pleased to see a record number of female MPs and the first ever female chancellor of the exchequer. One of our key asks to this government is to help bridge the funding gap for female entrepreneurs."
Gareth Thomas: Minister for services, small business and exports [full responsibilities]
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:
“Labour is determined to bring the voice of small business into the heart of government and deliver on our plan for SME’s [sic]
“They could not have a better champion in @gareththomasMP”
Thomas is also the MP for Harrow West. Enterprise Nation is currently delivering Harrow Digital Bootcamps, a government-funded programme helping entrepreneurs in Harrow build a thriving digital business.
Douglas Alexander: Minister for trade policy and economic security [full responsibilities]
Sarah Jones: Minister for Industry [full responsibilities]
Justin Madders: Minister Employment rights, competition and markets [full responsibilities]
Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: Minister for future economy and online safety [full responsibilities]
Chris Bryant: Minister for data protection and telecoms [full responsibilities]
Feryal Clark: Minister for AI and digital government [full responsibilities]
Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: Minister for future digital economy and online safety [full responsibilities]
Sir Patrick Vallance: Minister for science, research and innovation [full responsibilities]
In Labour's General Election manifesto and 'plan for small business', the party made several pledges for small businesses, including:
Tackle late payments by legislating to require the audit committees of big businesses to report on their company’s payment practices.
Scrap business rates and replace it with a system of business property taxation that is "fairer for bricks and mortar businesses".
Revitalise high streets by tackling anti-social behaviour with new town centre police patrols, creating a new specific offence of assault against retail workers, and giving councils powers to take over empty shops and reopen them.
For the period of the next parliament, cap the headline rate of corporation tax at its current rate of 25%, and "will act if tax changes in other countries pose a risk to UK competitiveness".
Increase in high street banking hubs.
Retain annual investment allowance for small business, and "give firms greater clarity on what qualifies for allowances to improve business investment decisions".
Boost small business exports by publishing a trade strategy that businesses have helped shape, looking at ways to remove the barriers to exports for firms of all sizes, improving guidance to make exporting easier, "make Brexit work by improving on the Conservatives' thin deal", and pushing for an EU visa waiver for UK touring artists.
Focus on skills with new technical excellence colleges connected to local economic needs, and reforming the apprenticeship levy as a new growth and skills levy.
Cut energy bills for small businesses, create commercial opportunities for them and deliver security with a "cheaper, zero-carbon electricity system" by 2030.
Make the UK "the best place to start up and scale up" by reforming the British Business Bank to better support SMEs in regions across the UK and unlocking the supply of patient capital for technology-intensive, early stage businesses.
Improve small businesses' access to public sector contracts with a "national procurement plan" that includes cutting red tape and requiring that at least one small or medium sized business makes the shortlist when any smaller, suitable contract goes out to tender.
Support creative SMEs, and prevent the loss of local cultural spaces through "Space to Create", which Labour describes as "the first national cultural infrastructure map".
Angela Rayner: Deputy prime minister and levelling up, housing and communities secretary
Pat Mcfadden: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
David Lammy: Foreign secretary
Yvette Cooper: Home secretary
John Healey: Defence secretary
Shabana Mahmood: Justice secretary
Wes Streeting: Health secretary
Bridget Phillipson: Education secretary
Ed Miliband: Energy security and net zero secretary
Liz Kendall: Work and pensions secretary
Louise Haigh: Transport secretary
Lisa Nandy: Culture, media and sport secretary
Hilary Benn: Northern Ireland secretary
Ian Murray: Scotland secretary
Jo Stevens: Wales secretary
Darren Jones: Chief secretary to the Treasury
Lucy Powell: Lord President of the Council, and Leader of the House of Commons
Baroness Smith of Basildon: Lord Privy Seal, and Leader of the House of Lords
Alan Campbell: Parliamentary secretary to the Treasury (chief whip)
Richard Hermer KC: Attorney general
