KEIR STARMER says his reshuffle provides a “smaller, more focused shadow cabinet that mirrors the shape of the government we are shadowing.”

As we know at least one of the departures — Cat Smith, who is apparently not being replaced as shadow secretary for young people and democracy — quit on principle, its smaller size may not be entirely Starmer’s choice, but his words do point to an important aspect of the new line-up.

As well as a shuffle to the right, it marks another quiet step away from the transformational ambition of Labour under Jeremy Corbyn, where the purpose of the top team was not simply to shadow existing ministers but to flesh out what Labour planned to do in power, including in areas of no interest to the Conservatives.