Emily Thornberry breaks silence after being ditched by Starmer as she expresses 'surprise' at sacking

Richard Hermer KC was appointed Attorney General in her place.

Thornberry said she feels "personal disappointment" over the decision but said nothing "can detract from the amazing and historic victory that all of us in the Labour movement worked together to win last week".

In a statement, she said: "After eight-and-a-half unbroken years in the Shadow Cabinet, a long record of service than anyone else in that time, I have always worked my hardest to keep the Labour Party united, support our candidates across the country, take the fight to the Tores, and put a positive case to the British people about what we would do differently, including - most recently - setting out our party's policies to tackle every aspect of the fraud epidemic facing Britain, to support whistleblowers on sexual harassment in the workplace, to protect women in co-habiting relationships, and to treat the crime of stalking with the seriousness it deserves.

"I am very sorry and surprised not to be able to continue that work in Government, but I wish all my brilliant colleagues well, and I know that Richard Hermer KC - a much more accomplished lawyer than I could ever hope to be - will do an outstanding job as Attorney General.

"Nothing in the personal disappointment I feel can detract from the amazing and historic victory that all of us in the Labour movement worked together to win last week, and the chance that we now have to change our country for the better.

"I will continue giving my unstinting loyalty to our Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, as he leads that work, as I have done since he became leader, and I look forward to supporting his government in every way I can in the years to come."

Starmer made a string of Cabinet appointments over the weekend, making Rachel Reeves Chancellor of the Exchequer, Yvette Cooper Home Secretary, David Lammy Foreign Secretary and Angela Rayner Housing Secretary.

Anneliese Dodds has been appointed Minister for Aid, attending Cabinet, while Bridget Phillipson has been made Minister for Women and Equalities in addition to her role as Education Secretary.

Stephen Kinnoch has been made a minister in the Department of Health, while Dame Diane Johnson and Angela Eagle have been given senior jobs in the Home Office.

Nick Thomas–Symonds has been made Minister for the Constitution and European relations.