Starmer's new sports minister admits she has NEVER been to a football match before
Labour's Shadow Sports Minister revealed that she has never been to a football or rugby match before
PA
Labour's Shadow Sports Minister revealed that she has never been to a football or rugby match before.
Thangam Debbonaire was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Digitial, Culture, Media and Sport at Labour's reshuffle earlier this month.
But despite sports being a key aspect of her brief, she admitted that she has never once attended a football game.
In an attempt to salvage her admission, she added: "I know how much it matters to other people."
Thangam Debbonaire was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Digitial, Culture, Media and Sport at Labour's reshuffle
PA
When asked if she was more of a football or rugby fan, Debbonaire said: "Do you know, I've never been to a football or a rugby match, but I know how much it matters to other people.
"My husband played rugby, so I'm going to have to go with rugby."
Sir Keir Starmer conducted a major reshuffle of his top team earlier this month, which saw Deputy Leader Angela Rayner appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities from her previous role as Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Pat McFadden, a former Blairite, replaced Rayner as Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, while also taking on the role of National Campaign Co-ordinator.
Meanwhile, Lisa Nandy was demoted from the role she previously held in the Department for Levelling Up, being appointed Shadow Cabinet Minister for International Development.
Steve Reed was also given a significant demotion, being moved from the Justice Department to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Labour MP Shabana Mahmood took his place as Secretary of State for Justice.
She previously acted as the Labour Party National Campaign Coordinator, a role she has done since 2021.
Liz Kendall, who stood against Jeremy Corbyn in the 2015 leadership contest, has been appointed Shadow Secretary of State for work and Pensions.
She will be replacing Jonathan Ashworth, who has been appointed Shadow Paymaster General in the Cabinet Office.
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Sir Keir Starmer conducted a major reshuffle of his top team earlier this month
PA
Ahead of the reshuffle, Starmer was been under increasing pressure to make changes to his top team in order to secure Labour's lead in the polls.
Rishi Sunak also conducted a mini reshuffle of his Cabinet the week before, moving Grant Shapps to the Ministry of Defence to replace Ben Wallace.
Former PPS Claire Coutinho, known to be loyal to the PM, was promoted to Shapps' old role in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.