Keir Starmer appointed Reeves's deputy Jones as chief secretary to the prime minister to handle media, advance the government's message, confront Reform, and drive delivery. Jones acted as Reeves's firewall during tense spending-review negotiations, is regarded as hardline on the economy, and has called for Labour to be the party of love, compassion and community to oppose politics of anger, division and blame. Allan, a veteran of the Tony Blair government and founder of PR agency Portland, was named executive director of communications amid praise for experience and concern over Portland's past lobbying for Kazakhstan, Russia and Qatar. Shafik, the former deputy Bank of England governor, was recruited to add economic heft despite controversy during her Columbia University tenure over pro-Gaza protests.
Chief secretary to the prime minister Keir Starmer has poached Reeves's effective deputy for the newly created post of chief secretary to the prime minister. A reliable communicator and a willing attack dog, Jones is expected to do lots of media for the PM on the government's message and delivery, and take on the threat from Reform. Regarded as hardline on the economy, Jones was Reeves's firewall in tense negotiations with cabinet ministers over the spending review.
Allan is a veteran spinner from the Tony Blair government and the founder of PR mega-agency Portland. An extremely experienced communications specialist his appointment is part of what one senior staffer told colleagues was more grownups returning to government although that description has raised defensive hackles internally. Some special advisers are very concerned about Portland's previous links to lobbying for the governments of Kazakhstan, Russia and Qatar including for the controversial 2022 World Cup and believe it will be a major issue for the government.
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