Starmer Appoints Reeves Deputy as No10 Chief Secretary Amid Government Shake-Up

Sir Keir Starmer has made significant changes to his Downing Street team, appointing Darren Jones, former chief secretary to the Treasury, as chief secretary to the Prime Minister in a new ministerial role that includes attending Cabinet and overseeing government delivery of the Prime Minister's priorities. This move, along with the recruitment of Baroness Minouche Shafik, a renowned economist and former Bank of England deputy governor, aims to bolster economic expertise within the government ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves's challenging autumn budget involving tough tax and spending decisions. The reshuffle also sees James Murray replace Jones as Treasury chief secretary and the departure of key Downing Street figures including Sue Gray, Matthew Doyle, Nin Pandit, and James Lyons, reflecting a broader effort to tighten control over the political agenda and government operations. These changes respond to criticism regarding a lack of direction within the Downing Street operation and the need for stronger political leadership, particularly in light of recent welfare policy rebellions and Labour's polling challenges. Starmer's enhanced oversight of economic policy signals a shift toward greater prime ministerial influence over the Treasury, a dynamic with historical precedents among UK prime ministers. Government insiders have indicated that no immediate junior minister reshuffle is planned, focusing instead on consolidating the new leadership structure at the top.