Starmer announces major Downing Street shake-up amid poll slump

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled a significant shake-up of his Downing Street team, in a move aimed at tightening control over his government and addressing a recent dip in Labour’s poll numbers.

According to a Financial Times report, citing Downing Street on Monday, Treasury Chief Secretary Darren Jones will take on a new role within Number 10, where he will be responsible for “driving forward progress in key policy areas” and report directly to the Prime Minister.

In a further move to strengthen the government’s economic expertise, Starmer has appointed Baroness Minouche Shafik — a former deputy governor of the Bank of England — as his chief economic adviser.

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The Conservative Party responded by accusing Starmer of building a parallel economic power base in Downing Street, suggesting the appointments signal waning confidence in Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

“A stronger prime minister would have gone the whole hog and fired her, not just created his own shadow chancellor,” FT quoted Andrew Griffith, shadow business secretary, as saying.

Reeves’ allies insisted the chancellor welcomed and had advocated the creation of a stronger economic team in Number 10, including the transfer of Jones.

“It’s important that Number 10 has a strong economic voice just as it already does on foreign policy,” FT quoted one ally of Reeves.

“This pushes the economic message across government and helps us do our job,” the ally added.

Starmer has also brought in Tim Allan, a former media adviser to Tony Blair and founder of Portland communications, to revamp his media operation as part of a wider Downing Street shake-up.

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The overhaul comes as MPs return from summer recess, with Labour polling at just 20% and the prime minister’s popularity under pressure ahead of a crucial autumn Budget.

Jones has been appointed chief secretary to the prime minister, a newly created role aimed at improving delivery across government. Previously at the Treasury, Jones was praised for handling a complex cross-Whitehall spending review. He is now expected to act as Starmer’s “enforcer” within Number 10.

The changes reflect Starmer’s recognition that tighter control is needed.

“Keir thought about this over the summer,” said one ally. “These are the right changes to bolster the operation and drive delivery.”

Meanwhile, Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden is expected to take on a bigger role in shaping Labour’s political strategy.

Starmer has appointed Allan as executive director of communications, signaling a push for sharper messaging from Downing Street.

Allan’s hire continues Starmer’s pattern of bringing back New Labour veterans, following earlier appointments of Jonathan Powell as national security adviser and Lord Mandelson as US ambassador.

Allan will work alongside current comms director Steph Driver.

James Lyons, director of communications (strategy), and Liz Lloyd, policy delivery director, are both leaving less than a year into their roles — the latest in a string of high-level departures from Starmer’s team.

At the Treasury, Jones will be replaced by Exchequer Secretary James Murray, who will be succeeded by newly elected MP Dan Tomlinson.

Dan York-Smith, a senior Treasury official, will become Starmer’s principal private secretary — a key role managing the PM’s schedule and briefing flow.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has also appointed LSE professor John Van Reenen as her new growth adviser.

With inputs from agencies