Keir Starmer reshaped his No 10 senior team to seize greater control of economic policy, creating two new roles and appointing Darren Jones to oversee day-to-day delivery and Minouche Shafik as chief economic adviser. Downing Street framed the changes as adding economic heft to challenge Treasury thinking and prevent damaging pitfalls such as winter fuel payments and welfare cuts. The internal reshuffle also covered the communications team and the policy unit and accompanied a pledge to deliver growth that people can feel in their pockets. The moves respond to summer political pressure from Reform UK and prepare for difficult parliamentary challenges, including likely autumn budget tax rises.
Before what is likely to be a tumultuous autumn for the government, he created two new roles with Darren Jones put in charge of day-to-day delivery and Minouche Shafik appointed the prime minister's chief economic adviser. Downing Street sources said the changes showed Starmer recognised his operation needed more economic heft to challenge Treasury thinking and avoid damaging pitfalls such as those over winter fuel payments and welfare cuts.
Things are unlikely to improve in the short term, with the return of parliament presenting the prime minister and his team with a series of tough challenges, including the likely need for tax rises in this autumn's budget. Starmer rejected the idea the changes were prompted by crisis, arguing it was more a case of a new phase of government.
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