Starmer Reshuffle Marginalizes Chancellor Reeves Amid Economic Uncertainty

Keir Starmer's recent reshuffle is widely seen as a strategic move to marginalize Chancellor Rachel Reeves amid rising economic turmoil and market distrust. Starmer has appointed new economic advisers and created the role of Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, transferring Reeves’s deputy Darren Jones to this position, signaling a loss of confidence in Reeves’s handling of the economy. Financial markets have reacted negatively under Reeves’s stewardship, with gilt yields reaching a 27-year high and the pound dropping sharply, intensifying pressure on her leadership. Critics attribute some of the government’s worst policy decisions and economic struggles to Reeves, but also emphasize that Starmer himself bears ultimate responsibility for the government's economic strategy and political direction. The reshuffle is interpreted as Starmer's attempt to reassert control over economic policy and shield himself from fallout, while many insiders believe Reeves’s departure is imminent either by force or design. This shift highlights Starmer's prioritization of communication and economic advisory changes over direct governance reforms as the UK faces significant fiscal challenges.