Sir Keir Starmer has introduced a shake-up of his workforce in Downing Road as he seeks to reset his premiership after a troublesome first yr in workplace.
Darren Jones, seen as a rising star throughout the Labour Celebration, has been moved to Quantity 10 to supervise the day-to-day supply of the prime minister’s priorities.
He has spent the final yr because the chief secretary to the Treasury – primarily Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s deputy – however that position will now be taken by James Murray, who was beforehand the exchequer secretary.
Mr Murray shall be changed by Dan Tomlinson, a brand new MP from the 2024 consumption who was the federal government’s “progress mission champion”.
Politics latest: Starmer begins Downing Street reshuffle
Talking to BBC Radio 5 Reside, Sir Keir mentioned the modifications weren’t a reshuffle however a transition “to the second part” of his authorities.
“We spent the primary yr form of fixing the foundations, in case you like, doing the arduous yards,” he mentioned.
“However we are actually into form of part two of the federal government, which is the place we give attention to supply, supply, supply and begin to present what a distinction a Labour authorities actually makes.”
He added that he was not “offended” concerning the tempo of change his authorities had managed, however mentioned he was “pissed off”.
“I get the frustration and anger of voters as a result of they need change,” he mentioned, vowing to go “additional and quicker”.
In a video posted in a while the prime minister’s X account, Sir Keir mentioned he had gathered the brand new workforce in Quantity 10 this morning to debate what part two of the federal government “will appear to be and really feel like”.
The reset comes after a summer season marred by detrimental headlines on immigration and Channel crossings.
Labour is languishing behind Reform UK within the polls after a troublesome first yr by which additionally they confronted a backlash over the minimize to winter gas funds and deliberate profit reforms.
Labour backbenchers have criticised Quantity 10 for not participating with their considerations and having a poor communications technique.
Luke Akehurst, the Labour MP for North Durham, welcomed at the moment’s shakeup, telling Sky Information: “Darren Jones is a really efficient minister and nice communicator so it is a welcome transfer to see him introduced into Quantity 10 and serving to to drive optimistic change throughout authorities.”
Mr Jones’s official new title is chief secretary to the prime minister, and he’ll reply on to Sir Keir whereas persevering with to attend cupboard.
He was elected because the Bristol North-West MP in 2017 and rose to prominence a number of years later as chair of the enterprise choose committee, when he made a reputation for himself holding enterprise leaders to account.
Mr Jones has previously described Tony Blair as his political hero and is known to have privately urged the federal government to be extra radical.
In its announcement of the modifications on Monday morning, Downing Road mentioned it could “bolster” its operations to mark a brand new time period in parliament, with MPs getting back from the summer season recess at the moment.
New financial adviser appointed
Different new appointments embody economist Baroness Minouche Shafik, who would be the prime minister’s chief financial adviser.
The Labour peer is a British-American economist and tutorial who has beforehand served because the president and vice chancellor of the London Faculty of Economics (LSE), and because the president of Columbia College.
Darren Jones Pic: PA
Tim Allan, who was an adviser to Blair from 1992 to 1998, has been appointed as the federal government’s Govt Director of Communications and can work with current director of communications, Steph Driver
James Lyons, who had been director of strategic communications inside No 10, has left his position after a yr, saying that it was “by no means meant as a protracted haul”.
The prime minister’s deputy chief of employees Vidhya Alakeson will tackle the expanded obligations of general oversight of Coverage and Supply inside Downing Road.
Daniel York-Smith has been appointed because the prime minister’s principal non-public secretary (PPS), a senior civil servant place that was beforehand held by Nin Pandit.
James Murray is the brand new Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Ms Pandit departed final week however stays in Downing Road and can lead a “newly reformed” supply workforce, Quantity 10 mentioned.
There had been hypothesis that junior ministers would additionally face a reshuffle as soon as MPs returned from their summer season recess however authorities insiders have mentioned no such modifications will happen, no less than within the first week of September.
Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative Celebration chairman, mentioned the “chaotic” reshuffle “exhibits a Downing Road in disaster – completely distracted from fixing the harm they’ve executed to the economic system, jobs and small companies”.
“It is like firefighters arguing concerning the hose while the home burns down,” he added.
