Nandy named among cabinet ministers thought to be at risk in spring resuffle

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is among government ministers whose positions may be under threat in a spring cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to the i Newspaper.

Nandy’s position is at risk because, the paper says, she is thought to spend too much time at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in Salford with suggestions that she does not attend events or Commons statements when asked.

Starmer chose Nandy to lead DCMS shortly after Labour’s victory in the July general election after former Shadow Culture Secretary Thangam Debbonaire lost her Bristol Central seat to Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer.

Nandy is the 13th Culture Secretary since 2010, succeeding Conservative Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer who, like Debbonaire, lost her seat in the general election.

Debbonaire, who frequently touted her cultural credentials as a former professional cellist, was made a life peer by Starmer in December, meaning she could now be selected to serve as Culture Secretary.

While most peers appointed to the cabinet tend to hold junior ministerial roles, it’s not uncommon for them to take more senior positions.

In 2019, Conservative MP and Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan stood down at the general election but was appointed to the Lords by Boris Johnson, allowing her to continue serving in the cabinet until February 2020.

Other cabinet members understood by the i to be under consideration by Starmer for reshuffling include Education Minister Bridget Phillipson, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Attorney General Richard Hermer.