Keir Starmer has shaken up his No.10 operation, appointing former permanent secretary Minouche Shafik and chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones to key roles.
The prime minister has appointed Baroness Shafik as his chief economic advisor. No.10 said she will “support the government to go further and faster in driving economic growth and raising living standards for all”.
Shafik was perm sec at the then-Department for International Development from 2008-2011. She has since held roles including deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund and deputy governor of the Bank of England. She received a damehood in 2015 and became a crossbench peer in the House of Lords in 2020.
In August, she left her position as president of Columbia University in the United States to chair a review of the UK government’s approach to international development and how to improve capability.
Jones has been appointed to a new minister of state role as chief secretary to the prime minister and No.10 Downing Street, in which he will continue to attend Cabinet.
No.10 said Jones will “work collaboratively across UK government to drive forward progress in key policy areas, reporting directly to the prime minister”.
He will be asked to “directly oversee work across government to support the delivery of the PM’s priorities and the government’s Plan for Change”, it added.
No.10 said the PM is “bolstering the Downing Street operation as this government delivers on the country’s priorities: growth people feel in their pockets, secure borders, and getting the NHS back on its feet”.
It added that the return of parliament from recess today “marks a new term and a ramping up of the next phase of this government’s domestic agenda – relentless delivery on our Plan for Change”. The changes follow reports that Starmer will replace his principal private secretary, Ninjeri Pandit, who was appointed to run the prime minister’s team at No.10 in October last year. Pandit is set to move into a new role leading on policy delivery for No.10.
HM Treasury reshuffle and new growth adviser
The No.10 shakeup has triggered a mini-reshuffle in HM Treasury, with James Murray being promoted from his role as exchequer secretary to the Treasury to replace Jones as chief secretary to the Treasury, and 2024-intake MP Daniel Tomlinson becoming exchequer secretary to the Treasury, his first ministerial role. Murray will attend Cabinet.
Meanwhile, the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has appointed a new growth adviser.
John Van Reenen starts in the one-day-per-week unpaid role this month and has been appointed for 12 months.
Van Reenen previously worked as chair of the chancellor’s Council of Economic Advisers before returning to his role as Ronald Coase School professor at the London School of Economics. He will now report to the chancellor as a direct ministerial appointment, focusing on the government's growth mission.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "We have fixed the foundations by securing economic stability, delivering three major trade deals and becoming the fastest growing economy in the G7 – but we still have work to do to build an economy that works for working people.
"John’s continued commitment will help us deliver the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth and raise living standards right across the country.
"He brings extensive experience from his background in academia where he has focused on productivity, how companies perform, and the impact of innovation, as well as from his year supporting the government’s growth mission in his prior tole."
Van Reenen said: "I am delighted to continue working with the chancellor in this advisory role –utilising my research and experience to help drive forward productivity, investment and ultimately growth into the UK."