Rachel Reeves, the former Bank of England economist, has been confirmed as Britain’s chancellor of the Exchequer as the incoming Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, appoints a new cabinet following his victory on Friday.

Reeves becomes the first woman to hold the crucial post in 708 years.

Starmer wasted no time in making key appointments to his new cabinet, ushering in a wave of change.

The new PM also appointed Angela Rayner has been appointed Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Rayner will also serve as Deputy Prime Minister.

Other appointments, ongoing, include:

Pat McFadden as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster;

David Lammy as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs;

Yvette Cooper as Secretary of State for the Home Department;

John Healey as Secretary of State for Defence;

Shabana Mahmood as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice;

Wes Streeting as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care;

Bridget Phillipson as Secretary of State for Education;

Ed Miliband as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero;

Liz Kendall as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions;

Jonathan Reynolds as Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade;

Peter Kyle as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology;

Louise Haigh as Secretary of State for Transport.

More details shortly…