Darren Jones Appointed Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister

Sir Keir Starmer is making significant changes to his Downing Street operation as Members of Parliament return from their summer break, including the appointment of Darren Jones to the new position of chief secretary to the Prime Minister. Previously serving as chief secretary to the Treasury, Jones will now be located at No 10 and will have the responsibility of leading initiatives across the Government that align with the Prime Minister's strategic priorities.

Furthermore, Starmer has brought on board Baroness Minouche Shafik as his chief economic adviser. Shafik, who has a notable background as an economist and the former president of Columbia University, is expected to strengthen the government's economic acumen ahead of the autumn budget, which is anticipated to include challenging tax and spending decisions from Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Shafik’s credentials also include serving as deputy governor of the Bank of England and as permanent secretary at the now-defunct Department for International Development.

In addition to these appointments, further changes are happening within No 10, including a new role for Nin Pandit, who will focus on delivering key priorities starting in September. This marks the third major change in his team within a year, following the departures of chief of staff Sue Gray and communications director Matthew Doyle. While there had been speculation about a possible reshuffle of junior ministers as the MPs returned, sources indicate that no such changes will occur in the early days of September. The shake-up was underscored by the recent resignation of Starmer's chief spin doctor, James Lyons, further illustrating the unsettled environment within his leadership team.