Sir Keir Starmer appoints new prisons and science minister

Sir Keir Starmer has ushered in his new cabinet ministers making some surprising moves including his appointment of James Timpson as prisons minister.

Labour‘s historic landslide election victory has left a Tory bloodbath in it’s wake as several notable figures from the previous cabinet failed to win over the electorate.

And as the new cabinet make their way to Downing Street with many shadow ministers being promoted – certain cabinet decisions have left eyebrows raised.

James Timpson, chief executive of his father’s Timpsons shoe repair chain business, was made the new minister for Prisons, Parole and Probation during the new Prime Minister’s appointments shortly after 3pm today.

Another recognisable face joining the ranks of Starmer’s new roster is Sir Patrick Vallance – who acted as a chief scientific adviser during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now serving as the Minister of State of science, the 64-year-old was nicknamed ‘Dr Doom’ during the pandemic for being the face of SAGE‘s bleak projections.

Both he and Sir Patrick have been handed peerages by the new Prime Minister. 

Although Mr Timpson OBE’s newly earned position well renowned for his work advocating for ex-convicts and passion for business.

Chair of the Employers Forum for Reducing Re-offending (EFFRR) until 2016, the Timpson’s boss has been applauded for his schemes rehabilitating offenders.

That same year, he became Chair of the Prison Reform Trust establishing Employment Advisory Board network throughout the country to help improve job opportunities for prison leavers.

For his very active work in getting disadvantaged people in employment and training, the new cabinet member was awarded in OBE in 2011.

Namely, the retailer’s CEO employed ex-prisoners in branches of his family’s business in a bid to rehabilitate them. 

According to The Mirror, the UK business has now hired 600 ex-criminals throughout the UK. 

He told the publication in 2019: ‘If you employ an ex-offender, someone long-term unemployed, a veteran, a care leaver, or someone who is disabled, the employer should not pay national insurance for the first 12 months.’ 

Whilst being well involved in the day-to-day runnings of his family’s business since 2002, the managing director has managed to up company profits from £3 million to over an eye-watering £20 million.

His success in business has been well recognised, with Timpson being showered in awards such as the David Goldman Visiting Professor of Innovation for 2012/13, at the Newcastle University Business School  for inspiring business minded people.

Later in 2015, he was an ambassador for the then Prince of Wales – King Charles – holding responsibility  for business in the North West. 

So well revered for his business acumen, Mr Timpson was one of five co-chairs advising on how to create optimal business conditions post-Brexit during Theresa May’s tenure. 

Three years ago reappointed trustee of the Tate. 

Several Labour minister headed to Downing Street this morning to face up their new bulging in-trays after their historic victory.

Beginning his appointments at 3pm, Angela Rayner walked the cobbles of Downing Street in a bright green power suit as she prepared to be appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Levelling Up Secretary. 

Rachel Reeves became Britain’s first female Chancellor, while David Lammy was appointed the new Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper the new Home Secretary, and Wes Streeting the new Health Secretary.

 All of them enjoyed introductory tours of their new Whitehall departments as the met with officials. But they were also immediately challenged by the myriad of crises they will have to battle over the coming weeks and months. 

Union bosses this evening demanded Mr Streeting come forward with a ‘credible’ offer to end the junior doctors’ dispute on pay, as they eye a 35 per cent wage hike.

Mr Lammy vowed to support an ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza after witnessing an election backlash in some parts of the country over Labour’s stance on the Middle East conflict.

In a speech to Treasury staff, Ms Reeves promised to boost Britain’s economic growth as her ‘central mission’.

And Ms Cooper pledged to set up a new ‘Border Security Command’ to tackle the Channel migrant crisis, as she prepares to scrap the Tories’ Rwanda deportation scheme.

Although many of the newly promoted minister’s looked forward to diving in the deep end, Sir Starmer decided there was no place for Emily Thornberry in his government.

Although the politician had loyally served as shadow attorney general over the last few years, Starmer opted for Richard Hermer KC as his Attorney General whilst also handing him a peerage. 

It comes after Ms Thornberry caused embarrassment for Sir Keir during the general election campaign with her admission that Labour’s plan to charge VAT on private school fees risks increasing class sizes in the state sector.

Over three quarters of the Prime Minister’s top team is likely to be state-educated when finalised.  

As his first act in Downing Street, Starmer has largely brought in ministers who come from working class backgrounds into his cabinet. 

Among the 650 of current MPs 63 per cent received a state education – the highest percentage on record.