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Sir Keir Starmer has announced a shake-up of his team in Downing Street as he seeks to reset his premiership after a difficult first year in office.
Darren Jones, seen as a rising star within the Labour Party, has been moved to Number 10 to oversee the day-to-day delivery of the prime minister’s priorities.
He has spent the last year as the chief secretary to the Treasury – essentially Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ deputy – but that role will now be taken by James Murray, who was previously the exchequer secretary.
Mr Murray will be replaced by Dan Tomlinson, a new MP from the 2024 intake who was the government’s “growth mission champion”.
Politics latest: Starmer begins Downing Street reshuffle
Downing Street said the changes reflect the shift into a “second phase” of government.
“It reflects the prime minister’s view that phase one of this government was about fixing the foundations and the second phase has to be about a relentless focus on delivery,” Sir Keir’s official spokesperson said.
Asked if that implies that delivery in the first year has not gone as hoped, they added: “The prime minister came into government with commitment to deliver change for working people. He spent the first year getting on with that job.
“Of course, the prime minister is always determined to make sure that we are straining every sinew to deliver for the British people.
“That is what they rightly expect and what he comes to work and focuses on every single day.”
Mr Jones’s official new title is chief secretary to the prime minister, and he will respond directly to Sir Keir while continuing to attend Cabinet.
He was elected as the Bristol North-West MP in 2017 and rose to prominence a few years later as chair of the business select committee, when he made a name for himself holding business leaders to account.
Mr Jones has previously described Tony Blair as his political…
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