Yvette Cooper left ‘frustrated’ after Home Office switch as Labour government enters rocky reshuffle phase
Yvette Cooper was reportedly left “frustrated” after being moved from the Home Office to the Foreign Office in Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet reshuffle, an internal shift that’s already drawing criticism for its timing and implications.
The revelation came from her husband, former Labour minister Ed Balls, who disclosed her reaction on his Political Currency podcast, just ahead of Cooper’s maiden trip to Kyiv in her new role.
“How could you not be excited by the idea of being the Foreign Secretary?” Balls said, before adding, “But it’s obviously frustrating when you’ve spent years getting to the point where you had a plan to turn this round in terms of migration.”
Setback Amid Progress
Cooper had only recently begun to see momentum on key Home Office issues like immigration control, international deportation deals, and reforming the asylum process. According to Balls, she had made significant headway on:
- Toughening up deportation procedures
- Mobilising cross-departmental support for housing asylum seekers
- Streamlining appeals systems
- Securing international agreements with France and Germany
Her transfer now forces her replacement, Shabana Mahmood, to restart those efforts from scratch, a move Balls criticised as disruptive and unnecessary.
“Chaos” in a Cabinet of Stability?
The reshuffle follows Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s sudden resignation and marks one of the first major internal overhauls under Starmer’s government.
Balls didn’t hold back, saying the move made the new administration appear “chaotic”, directly undermining Labour’s promise of a “stable and long-term government.”
“This reshuffle, so fast into the government, does seem chaotic, and it’s not what you would want to do in the first few days of your ‘phase two’ delivery period,” Balls noted.
The criticism also extended to the demotion of David Lammy, who had spent years cultivating foreign relations, only to be reassigned as Deputy PM and Justice Secretary.
Cooper’s Kyiv Visit Sends Strong Message to Moscow
Despite the internal shake-up, Cooper is wasting no time stepping into her new brief. Her first foreign visit will be to Kyiv, a powerful gesture aimed at reaffirming the UK’s unshakeable commitment to Ukraine as it continues to endure Russian aggression.
In the backdrop of the visit:
- Russian drones recently violated Polish airspace during strikes on Ukraine
- Kyiv suffered its largest aerial attack since the war began
- A government building in Kyiv was struck for the first time
Cooper will tour both government and residential buildings targeted in these assaults, including the Cabinet of Ministers site. Alongside her visit, she unveiled a £142 million UK aid package, consisting of:
| Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|
| Repairs to heating & water systems | £100 million |
| Protection of Ukraine’s energy grid | £42 million |
“I have chosen to visit Ukraine in my first few days as Foreign Secretary because Ukraine’s security is crucial to the UK’s security. I am clear that the UK’s support is unwavering and stronger than ever,” Cooper said.
The trip not only marks a pivotal moment in UK foreign policy under the new Labour government but also reinforces Britain’s stance against Russian aggression, an important signal to both allies and adversaries.
While Yvette Cooper is embracing her new role with determination, the sudden nature of her departure from the Home Office has left many questioning the internal logic behind Starmer’s reshuffle.
With migration still a high-priority issue and international tensions escalating, Labour’s challenge will be delivering continuity and clarity at a time when both are in short supply. The world is watching, and so is Westminster.
