Sir Keir Starmer begins reshuffle of Labour shadow cabinet

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has started a reshuffle of his shadow ministers.

The reorganisation began as the party's deputy leader Angela Rayner was giving a speech about ministers' conduct.

Asked about the reshuffle, Ms Rayner said she was not aware of one adding: "I've been concentrating on the job that I'm doing."

In one of the first moves, shadow minister Cat Smith said she was returning to the backbenches.

Ms Rayner's spokesman told the BBC that "she was informed the reshuffle was taking place" but didn't know "any of the details".

Writing to her party leader, Ms Smith - the MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood - said she was "grateful" for Sir Keir's offer to keep her in her frontbench position.

However, she said she would leave her role, adding: "I wish to focus more of my time in my Lancashire constituency."

She added that the pair had a meeting scheduled during which she wanted to raise concerns about former leader Jeremy Corbyn "not being readmitted to the Parliamentary Labour Party".

She wrote that the current situation was "utterly unsustainable" adding "it is important you truly understand how much damage this is causing".