The prime minister has continued the shakeup of his No.10 operation, appointing a new principal private secretary and executive director of communications.
Yesterday morning, No.10 announced the appointments of Minouche Shafik as the PM’s new chief economic adviser, and Darren Jones in a new role of chief secretary to the prime minister, which led to a mini-reshuffle in HM Treasury.
A series of further appointments have since been reported including that of long-time civil servant Dan York-Smith as the PM’s PPS, and Tim Allan, who was an adviser to Tony Blair as PM, as executive director of communications at No.10.
York-Smith, who has spent most of his civil service career at the Treasury, replaces Nin Pandit who has reportedly moved into a policy role.
The appointment marks a return to No.10 for York-Smith, who spent two years as private secretary to David Cameron from 2013. Since 2015 he has been back at the Treasury, where he started his civil service career, most recently as director general of tax and welfare.
Before that post, York-Smith was the director of the strategy, planning and budget group for five years. He also led on Covid-19 strategy for the first six months of the pandemic.
Allan was deputy director of communications at No.10 under Blair’s administration, reporting to Alastair Campbell. After leaving government, he founded PR consultancy Portland.
Meanwhile reports suggest that James Lyons, No.10’s director of strategic communications is leaving along with Liz Lloyd, director of policy, delivery and innovation, and Olaf Henricson-Bell, director of the No.10 Policy Unit and also the twin brother of minister Torsten Bell.
Some other senior staff have also reportedly changed roles. Deputy chief of staff Vidya Alakeson will take on extra responsibilities for policy and delivery alongside Pandit, according to The Guardian, which also reported that a new policy unit director is still expected to be appointed in the coming months.
No.10 director of communications Steph Driver, meanwhile, is expected to continue to focus on day-to-day communications.
And Stuart Ingham, who was head of policy at No.10, has become senior counsel to the prime minister and director of strategic interventions.