When the dust settled on Keir Starmer’s reshuffle , it looked very much like the aftermath of a game of musical chairs.

Although he made a raft of changes, the prime minister will still see largely the same faces sitting around the table when the cabinet gathers in 10 Downing Street on Tuesday morning.

Emma Reynolds and Douglas Alexander will be the only newbies, a clear sign that Starmer’s shake-up was a classic case of weakness dressed up as strength.

Nevertheless, the government’s two main priorities are now clear: grow the economy and, to borrow Rishi Sunak’s old slogan, stop the boats.

Pat McFadden , the PM’s trusted ally, will take on the first task at the Department of Work and Pensions, with a clear instruction to push through tough welfare reforms where his predecessor,

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